Welcome to our INSPIRE Staff Spotlight Series, where we highlight DeanHouston+ team members to learn more about them, their work, and to pick their brains on a variety of topics.
Our first featured guest is DJ Slater, the publicity coordinator at DH+.
In this DH+ exclusive, we sat down with the high-motor Milwaukeean to learn about his background, how he came to DH+, his impassioned penchant for cake, and the idiosyncrasies which have led colleagues to fondly speak of him as though he were an event.
Let’s go Slater!
DH+: Okay, your life story. No pressure.
DS: Oh, fun! I grew up in Milwaukee, attending public elementary. In middle school, my family moved to Franklin, where I attended Forest Park Middle School and Franklin High School. My education continued at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, where I ambitiously double-majored in journalism and history. This set me on my career path, which officially began in Wausau after several part-time journalism jobs and internships.
DH+: Many folks on the DH+ content team have a background in journalism, so we must ask: Why journalism?
In high school, I wanted to be either a novelist or an actor. Thankfully, I had the foresight to realize how difficult it is to make it in either profession without starving. So, I thought I could go into journalism and chase those acting dreams on the side. I get my acting fix performing in community theater, though I’ve been out of it since 2014 when my first child was born. I was ready to jump back on stage in 2020 and we all know what happened next. As for the novelist dream, I have a finished novel that I’m editing before I start pitching it to agents.
I worked as a general assignment reporter at the Wausau Daily Herald from 2006-2010. I then became an editor at Diesel & Gas Turbine Publications here in Milwaukee. I stayed there for 11 years. Then one day, a man by the name of Darren Wight called me about an opportunity…
DH+: You joined DH+ in March 2021. What’s been different about things here than previous roles?
DS: The people make this place special. Each staff member has two common traits that make this whole thing work: genuineness and selflessness. I see that in everyone I talk to. It’s obvious that people care about each other here. The staff sees the greater good and
looks beyond themselves. That’s a testament to our CEO, Dale Dean, who leads by example every day.
DH: Walk us through a typical day in DJ land.
DS: Well, I generally come in about fifteen minutes late. I use the side door, so Dale can’t see me. After that I sorta space out for an hour – props if you know that movie reference.
My day involves checking in with Darren (Wight) or Eric (Hirth) and seeing if there’s anything pressing to address. After that, I keep a running list of tasks and a calendar of reminders to make sure I’m putting our clients’ content in front of the right publications. That part is consistent, and I tackle additional writing assignments and research tasks.
I’m still learning about my role and taking on more clients. The exciting part is that this role has the potential to expand, possibly to the point that they might have to open an office in Milwaukee, ha!
DH+: What’s the best part about working at DH+?
DS: Lunch is tough to top. But it’s not difficult to work for a group of people who care about you and the collective good of our clients. The people here are always finding the good in any situation. Everyone cares and that’s amazing to me.
DH+: What ‘s next on your list of personal and professional goals?
DS: Personally, it’s getting my novel published.
DH+: Give us the pitch.
A college student who is losing his love for his favorite pastime – visiting haunted house attractions in October. This childhood tradition gets rekindled by his friends, who discover an attraction said to be unfinishable with 10 stories and a cash prize waiting at the top. The group finds this legendary haunt and enters it, unaware that the horrors inside are real. This idea comes from my own love of haunted houses.
Professionally, I’d like to help DH+ grow its publicity branch to the point that we have a larger department dedicated to it. In this scenario, I would oversee the department and guide our publicity team in all outreach efforts.
DH+: Both those goals sound awesome. Let’s shift gears for a second. Give us your 5 favorite movies.
DS: Raiders of the Lost Ark
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Jurassic Park
Back To the Future
Gladiator
DH+: 5 favorite musical artists.
DS: Genesis/Phil Collins
Peter Gabriel (solo, not the early days with Genesis)
Michael Jackson
John Mayer
Mat Kearney
DH+: Word is you possess quite the collection of movie and comic book memorabilia…
DS: Guilty.
DH+: Where did this intense fandom come from and what sustains it?
DS: It stems from my childhood love for movies. I would see all these badass props like lightsabers, hoverboards, Indiana Jones’ hat and so forth, and wish I could just pull them from the screen. Owning them (especially lightsabers), brings me back to those days where anything felt possible. I feel that regardless, but the props add another dimension to that.
DH+: Word Association. We’ll give you a random word/name/place, and you give us an equally random thought about each one. First thing that pops into your head.
DH+ / DS:
Superman / He’s cool, but I’m not the biggest fan.
Tarantulas / Hard pass.
Hallmark Christmas movies / You know, they could really make these special if they stopped making them so cliché and threw in a few surprises. The majority are creatively bankrupt.
The Rolling Stones / I see a red door and I want it painted black.
Pond scum / I guess frogs like it?
DH+: Do aliens exist?
DS: It seems asinine to suggest that they don’t. Considering the number of galaxies in the known universe, I imagine there are others that sustain life. I don’t get caught up in UFO documentaries or anything, but I have a natural curiosity regarding space.
DH+: Pie or cake, and why?
DS: Cake. I’m not a fan of fruit in my desserts, with few exceptions like apple pie, but pies bore me. They’re the default quasi-inconspicuous receptacle to stash fruit. Lame.
Cake is better. You can layer it, frost it, and make the texture unique – firm with flourless cake, or softer with the equally sinful and virtuous tres leches. What does pie have that cake can’t do better? Have you ever seen a birthday pie? Did Marie Antoinette say, “Let them eat pie?” Hell no. And if you’re given the choice, follow the knight’s advice from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, “Choose wisely.”
DH+: You know they can put fruit in cake now. I’ve seen it.
DS: Who really likes fruitcake though?