MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | FALL 2002

Linda Meierhoffer:
Building a Lifetime of Successes Through Caring

By Holly Bolton

As I rushed to the glass doors of the Grand Street Café, I was a bit frantic and somewhat concerned. I was running a little late, and I was nervous about my first "Member Spotlight" interview. I soon learned, however, that I had nothing to fear. Linda Meierhoffer put me at ease right away, and I discovered that her caring nature is something she has fostered throughout her life.

If you were to take glimpses into various times of Linda's life, you would most likely see that she has been busy "building." After forming a foundation of education and experience, she started her own business in health care communications. She recently designed and oversaw the construction of her home and is in the process of creating a nonfiction book with a topic inspired by her own experiences.

Linda grew up in south Kansas City. She received a bachelor's degree in English and a master's in public administration from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She started her career working in hospital administration and from there went to Marion Laboratories to work in the company's marketing department.

"A big part of what I did was write research reports," she said. "I met my husband, Mark, while at Marion Labs, where he worked in the finance department. We were friends for years before marrying in 1986. Mark currently owns a financial advisory business."

Linda left Marion Labs in 1989, received a master's degree in journalism from the University of Kansas and started her own business in health care communications.

Starting her own business prompted Linda to join AWC in 1992, and this marks her 10-year anniversary. She was president of the Kansas City AWC chapter from 1995-96. During that time, the National Convention was held in Kansas City and the organization was more active with members whose companies supported their membership.

"The economy has hurt corporate sponsorships, particularly after 9-11," Linda said.

In regard to working in communications, Linda said she was "bitten by the bug early."

"People told me I could write and I believed them. Business acquaintances and friends would often ask me to critique and edit their work."

In her profession, her favorite job is interviewing people and getting to know what motivates them. Her least favorite job is re-editing quotes for the third time when people don't like to see how their words look in print.

Linda has found the blend of her skills-business, marketing and health care-to be very beneficial to her career. Rather than working solely in communications, she likes to use it as an overlay.

With her knowledge of medical terminology and the health care field, Linda has interviewed doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other health care professionals for a number of journal and newspaper articles. The topics range from the very technical to those targeting consumers of health care services.

After 10 years Linda has closed her business to oversee the design and building of a new house and to write a nonfiction book proposal. Now that the home is built, she will concentrate fully on marketing her book proposal in the fall. The book, titled Teen Grief: Getting Better After a Parent Dies, is geared toward adolescents who have experienced the death of a parent.

"I know what that feels like," Linda said. "I lost both parents when I was young. My mother died when I was 18, and my father died when I was 20. At that time there was no literature available for young people who had lost a parent. What books were available were geared toward older adults.

"The market is huge because one out of every 20 kids loses at least one parent to death by the age of 18," said Linda. "Interest has grown in the topic, especially after 9-11."

The book includes personal accounts and stories of hope from individuals who have lost parents before age 20.

Writing a book proposal is a long process. It took Linda two years to write the proposal, as it involved extensive travel for the interviews.

"I couldn't interview these people over the phone because the topic was too personal," said Linda. "I needed to see their body language. Some of these people were telling me things they'd never told anyone."

The book proposal is over 100 pages and includes the target market for the book, a marketing plan and several sample chapters.

Self-disciplined in all aspects of her life, Linda offered advice to those who want to become freelance writers. "Treat it like a job," she said. "When I have a project, I go to my computer to begin writing. If you want to be successful, you have to deliver the product."

Linda has been fortunate to meet several of her favorite writers, including Anna Quindlen. Linda recalls Quindlen's advice on overcoming writer's block: "Don't get it right, get it written."

Linda's future plans include writing more books. "I like long-term projects," she said.

Mark and Linda have three children-a son and daughter out of college and working, and another daughter who is starting at Tulane University in August. You don't have to be a keen observer to realize that Linda is enamored by her children. Her most prized possession is her collection of photographs of family and friends throughout her office.

Linda further demonstrated her humbleness and her closeness to family when she couldn't think of three words to describe herself.

The words she did say were, "Ask my kids. Or my husband. It would be more realistic coming from them."

In her spare time, Linda enjoys reading, especially mysteries and memoirs, and traveling. Linda and her husband are planning to return to Italy next year.

"We went in 1999 and fell in love with Florence, Rome and all of Tuscany," Linda said. The trip served as inspiration for the decor in her new home.

The perfect day for Linda is walking on a day with a bright blue, cloudless sky, 75 degrees, surrounded by desert flowers and ringed by mountains in Palm Springs, California, in February. However, she is quite happy where she is now.

Linda said if she could go back in time and do something different, she wouldn't. "It took all those things to get to the place I am today, and it seems like a pretty good place."