Margie Foster

 

MLIS educated, Foster uses her talents in DAM with one of the top 100 most innovative companies in the world.

What companies/organizations have you worked for as a DAM professional? What was your role at each?

I started off as a photo editor using Cumulus at an educational publishing company, Steck-Vaughn/Harcourt.  I was later promoted to Digital Asset Manager when we brought a new digital asset management system in house.   Around that time I attended graduate school and was awarded a Masters of Library and Information Science.

When digital asset management expanded across the Harcourt Corporation, I was named the Intellectual Property Resources Manager and grew a multipurpose department.  I joined Freescale as the Digital Asset Management Librarian after a brief sabbatical to have twins. I manage a DAM system and am responsible for the ensuring quick and easy access to the company’s marketing collateral in rich media file format.

How do you describe digital asset management to others?

I work the library analogy.  I tell folks that I manage a digital library.  It works very similar to a traditional library but with digital files.

What’s the most important thing for someone new to DAM to understand about DAM?

In the public sector it is all about accountability.  While keeping the system users happy with sound metadata structure, prompt research service, and simple finding aids is extremely important, being able to identify who’s  using the system, why,  and how often will allow you to report cost savings in real dollars.

What was your biggest success with regard to DAM?

I loved bringing a new DAM system online.  From initial research, to executive pitch, through the RFP, in house testing, selection, negotiation, implementation and training, was all a fantastically satisfying experience.  It’s an exciting time and the reward in finally having the best system in place is especially sweet.

This interview originally appeared on DAM Guru on Mon, 09 Dec 2013. For more DAM News interviews, see the interviews index page.

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