“YPN5Q” is a weekly Q&A series spotlighting the state’s top young business and civic leaders and creative minds — professionals propelling change through entrepreneurship, the arts, public service, social media, and community involvement. This week, we hear from Jered Weber, communications director for the Minnesota State University Student Association.
At MSUSA, Weber is responsible for internal and external communications and the creation and implementation of its visibility plan.
In his off-hours, Weber serves on the MSUSA Alumni Board; the New Brighton Parks, Recreation and Environmental Commission; the Senate District 50 DFL Central Committee and the MinnPost YPN Acquisitions Committee.
Name: Jered Weber
Age: 26
Residence: New Brighton
Current job title: Director of Communications
Current employer: Minnesota State University Student Association
1. What do like most about your job?
In my role as director of communications for small nonprofit, I get to wear a lot of hats and I enjoy the diversity of my job responsibilities.
In addition, working for a social cause that I strongly believe in — affordable, accessible education for the students of the Minnesota state universities — is a unique experience that is genuinely rewarding.
2. What do you enjoy doing outside of your day job?
I like to keep busy and tend to engage in a variety of civic engagement activities in my free time.
I sit on the New Brighton Parks and Recreation Environmental Commission, where I get to experience all the minutia of city government policy related to parks and the environment.
Recently, I’ve started volunteering with the St. Paul Housing Agency’s after-school program, Youth Connections. If you enjoy working with kids, are from the St. Paul area and want to help address the education attainment gap in Minnesota, I would highly recommend donating some time to Youth Connections.
3. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I’m strong believer in embracing all of one’s characteristics, even those that may be perceived as flaws; I believe those quirks are what make us unique.
However, if I had to pick, I would probably like to be a bit more focused.
Being from a generation bombarded with media from every direction every minute of the day, it’s sometimes easy to get distracted from the task at hand by a dozen different news stories, advertisements and status updates.
Which reminds me, I should probably tweet about this.
4. What living person would you love to have lunch with?
I would love to sit down with President Obama. Not only would it be a once-in-a-lifetime experience to have lunch with a sitting president, but Obama seems like he would have a lot of wisdom to impart.
If we happen to start an impromptu game of one-on-one basketball afterwards, all the better.
5. What do you listen to on the commute to work?
I love this question, but it’s kind of a hard one to answer.
Some days I enjoy listening to Minnesota Public Radio to catch up on the pressing news of the day. Otherwise, I just like to lose myself in every kind of music, from Jay-Z to The Kooks.
One thing I never listen to is someone on my cell phone, because talking on one’s cell phone in traffic is never a good idea.
To nominate a young professional for “YPN5Q,” email ypn@minnpost.com with the nominee’s full name, employer or contact info, and one or two brief sentences supporting your nomination.
