Today we’d like to introduce you to Krystal Jones.
Hi Krystal, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
“Talks too much in class.” This note appears on every report card I received in elementary school. Ever since I can remember, I have loved to discover, create, and tell stories – and will share them with anyone who will listen.
It is this passion that led me to build a career rooted in marketing and communications, first taking me from my hometown of Newark, Ohio (located 40 miles east of Columbus), to Heidelberg College (now University) in Tiffin, Ohio. I double-majored in psychology and communications, and I have often found this to be of value in understanding the motivation and needs of others – and how they prefer to receive their communications. A side note: I cannot speak highly enough of Heidelberg. It is a place that not only prepared me significantly for continuing my education and career but also reaffirmed my family’s values of caring for and helping others.
After Heidelberg, I received my master’s in Public Relations from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, which introduced me to business-to-business (B2B) technology with an internship at O’Keeffe & Company. I spent the next six years in the tech industry, working marketing and communications initiatives for worldwide companies including Quest Software and a return to O’Keeffe & Company.
Though I enjoyed the innovation and global nature of B2B tech, I longed to have more connection to the community in which I lived and to work in an industry I would thoroughly enjoy promoting. It was this desire that led me to the City of San Antonio and its Convention & Visitors Bureau (now Visit San Antonio).
As soon as I stepped foot in San Antonio, I fell in love with the city – particularly its arts and culture. For the past 12 years, in tourism and at the City’s Department of Arts & Culture, where I served as the Marketing, Film & Music Administrator and now as the Interim Director, I have been committed to discovering, creating, and telling the stories of San Antonio and its arts community. Every single day I am in awe of the artists and arts organizations who call San Antonio home and make it a better place. There is art happening in every corner of this city. Exploring it brings a greater understanding of the people, land, and history behind it all – and, in turn, a better understanding of ourselves and each other.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Not at all. Yet, I appreciate every bump along the journey because I work to use each one as a learning lesson with the goal of becoming a better person, professionally and personally. Even before my career started, it was overwhelming to navigate the college process as a first-generation college student. Again, all credit goes to my parents for spending hours and hours sifting through information pre-Internet to figure out how college, financial aid, grants, loans, and scholarships all work. My mom drove me all over Ohio on weekends to interview and test for potential scholarships from in-state schools, as it was the only option that would work financially. Even more, she did this while I gave Napoleon Dynamite a run for his money with major teenage attitude (I am still sorry, Mom!).
As unfortunately still happens, I have experienced first-hand the difficulties women face to be taken seriously, be compensated fairly, and professionally avoid and deter harassment in business. I have also had others take credit for my work and ideas for their own self-promotion as well as people question my capabilities before getting to know me or my skills.
However, even the most uncalled for, difficult, and downright awful experiences made me better and more prepared in the end. They made me work even harder, which paid off with success and changed pre- and ill-conceived notions of who I am as a professional. These experiences also only strengthened and deepened my conviction for being genuine, not judging others, and treating others as I would want to be treated. Finally, and the biggest reward of all, the hard times made me seek out and spend time with others who have the same values of being kind, honest and genuine – bringing the most wonderful people from all backgrounds, experiences and walks of life into my life. It also made me more empathetic and understanding of others, as we all struggle “to get through this thing called ‘life.’” (Have to throw a Prince reference in here).
To sum it all up, I’ll reference a recent mural by San Antonio artist Cassidy Fritts, which quotes the poem “Kindness” by San Antonio poet Naomi Shihab Nye: “Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside, you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.”
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As Interim Executive Director of the City of San Antonio’s Department of Arts & Culture, I oversee the department’s day-to-day operations and the planning and execution of programs and initiatives within its core divisions: Grants Management, Public Art, Cultural Events & Exhibits, and Marketing, Film & Music. In this role, I manage the department’s budget, including the Core Grants Program for nonprofit arts organizations and individual artists and its Public Art Program. I am a great believer in the power of arts, culture, and community to transform lives. Learn more about San Antonio arts and culture at www.SanAntonio.gov/Arts and @getcreativesa.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
First and foremost, my family deserves all the credit for any success I have and will have. They are the reason I have a strong work ethic. Every single person in my family puts their full hearts into their work. Just one example: my grandfather was consistently a top producer and overtime worker on an assembly line until he was 78 – only stopping when the company’s move out of the country forced him to do so.
My family is also the reason I believe everyone deserves to be treated with respect and kindness no matter their path or position in life and that doing the right thing is the priority (no matter how hard it may be at times). My parents made so many sacrifices to build a better life for me and my brother. They encouraged and practically demanded that I be the first in our family to go to college. I will never forget the tears of joy I shared with my parents and grandparents on graduation day. No matter where I am or what I am facing, my family is always there to remind me who I am, where I come from, and what I am capable of. I could go on and on – they are just truly wonderful, genuine, and kind people.
From my family’s strong foundation, I was able to build a career with the help of mentorship at every step of the way. High school coaches and teachers, college professors, outstanding bosses and colleagues, mentors through professional development programs, and industry allies – I have so many people that have and continue to help me through this journey with advice and a listening ear. This includes my incredible friends, who I consider part of my family.
ABSOLUTELY not least, I continue to learn and grow alongside the amazing team at the Department of Arts & Culture. We are a tiny team, especially for the mighty things we do. Every single person on our team has contributed to our success – and ultimately – to the success of San Antonio and its arts community. This team puts in a wild number of hours and works incredibly hard, all for the purpose of making San Antonio a better place to create and experience arts and culture. I am honored and grateful to work with them, for the City of San Antonio, and alongside our arts community.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.SanAntonio.gov/Arts
- Instagram: @krystalsizzle and @getcreativesa
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/krystalthesizzlejones
- Twitter: @KrystalJones
