EDITOR’S NOTE: On our second anniversary, Toledo Free Press launched the “Brain Gain” series, celebrating those who choose to make their home in Northwest Ohio. As we begin our eighth year of publication, we are returning to the series that symbolizes our intent: to show the world, and remind ourselves, why this is such a special place to live and work.
Toledoan Mary Beth Schoen absolutely loves her job as account director for Transcend Hospice Marketing Group, a part of R/P Marketing Public Relations.
Schoen, 61, joined Transcend in December after more than 30 years of working for the Lauerer Markin Group and also some time at Thread Marketing Group. She is passionate about working with hospices.
“That’s a big reason I made a career change and stayed in Toledo, because I was going to be working with people I considered to be the leaders in hospice marketing. There’s no one else in the country at this expert level,” she said.
Schoen has personal connections to hospice care. Her mother did not receive hospice care before her death; her father did, and it made all the difference.
“I tell everyone he had a blessed death,” she said. “There’s so much joy and preparation for the birth of a child. Can’t we bring that same preparation and joy and just positive, wonderful feeling to that next great passage in life?”
The St. Mary’s College grad grew up in West Toledo as one of 14 children, seven girls and seven boys. Now nine of her siblings and some of her 58 nieces and nephews live in the area, another reason she’s stayed in the Glass City.
“We’re close and we get together as often as we can,” she said, adding that she’s the go-to family member for borrowing clothes.
Although Schoen previously considered moving to Chicago, her love for her job at Lauerer pulled her back.
“I loved what I did. I loved the people I worked with. I loved the clients,” she said.
The account director also loves working with charities. Schoen serves on the board of Research Down Syndrome, a nonprofit that supports cognitive research. She also helps out at Shared Lives Studio, an art studio providing professional opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities. The studio’s art director, Lori Schoen, is her sister-in-law.
“Toledo just welcomes [the artists] with open arms, which is another thing about Toledo. Toledo is just a very warm city,” Schoen said.
Toledo’s art scene is important to Schoen, who said she goes to Toledo Symphony Orchestra performances as often as possible. Schoen, an avid gardener, also likes taking her nieces and nephews to the Toledo Zoo.
“Talk about gardening, that is a gardener’s delight there,” she chuckled, adding that the Toledo Botanical Garden is another treat for her.
Schoen also greatly enjoys the Art Walks, put on by the Arts Commission.
“It’s really helped bring the Downtown area more alive. We are going through a renaissance in the Downtown area,” Schoen said.
And what does Schoen bring to the area?
“I like to bring positivity. If I can do anything, I like to be able to open up conversations with people, talking about life experiences, talking about work experiences,” she said.
Schoen also boasts about Toledo’s attributes. “I love sharing with other people things I think they’ll enjoy. I tell them about things like the Art Walks, the wonderful things that go on Downtown. I like to spread the news. Don’t we all like to hear a good story?”
