Employee Exclusive: Get to Know Marissa Schatz
1. As Manager of Sustainability Services and Events, what strategies have been most effective for you in cultivating relationships rather than one-time connections?
Recognizing relationships are the heart of my work makes it easy to cultivate them. I wouldn’t be able to do what I do if it weren’t for my incredible teammates, helpful vendors, and inspiring clients. Instead of getting lost in the tasks, objectives and deadlines, I try to take a moment to step back and remember the people behind them. That humanity-first perspective empowers me to take the time to build genuine connections, all while making sure those many, many tasks get done.
2. You’ve supported the United States Department of Energy’s (DOE) Better Buildings Summit, one of the department’s most prominent events. How do you keep content relevant and engaging for audiences who return year after year?
The reason I love my job so much is because it all comes down to creating moments to bring people together. While it’s important to tailor your programming to your organization’s goals and priorities, it’s just as important to take the time to listen to your key stakeholders – like the Better Buildings, Better Plants Summit’s attendees who return year after year – to understand what they want to invest their time and money in. The U.S. DOE’s Better Buildings, Better Plants program regularly engages with its partners across all sectors of the economy, and DOE uses those conversations to shape the Summit’s programming. This ensures DOE stays true to the Summit’s core mission: being an opportunity for partners to meet and learn from one another.
3. When hosting events for large virtual audiences, what practices do you rely on to maintain engagement, participation, and inclusivity at that scale?
Oh, the things that can go wrong when you put thousands in a virtual event…I think I’ve seen them all! The easiest way to impress your audience is to perfect the basics: make your screenshares crisp, video launches seamless, speaker audio and visuals camera-ready, and platform settings ready to go. Nailing those practices builds trust and reputability with your audiences which keeps them coming back.
Once you have the basics down, find ways to establish buy-in so your attendees feel “seen,” even when their cameras are off (which they should be!). I love opening virtual events with polls. Not only does it allow the attendees to feel like a part of the production, but it also helps your speakers know more about them, and they can tailor their remarks accordingly. Same goes for Q&A; attendees feel more connected to your content when they have the opportunity to directly engage with it. There are plenty of safeguards out there to prevent rude or irrelevant questions from coming up, so don’t let the fear of the unknown keep you from bringing your virtual attendees into the conversation.
4. You have grown within RE Tech Advisors from Sustainability Associate to Manager over the last few years. What leadership lessons have shaped the way you approach managing events today?
I’ve found authenticity promotes authenticity. I consider myself an outgoing and fun-loving person who loves to laugh. Instead of checking those parts of myself at the door when I walk into RE Tech, I see them as my superpowers and leverage them to build trusted relationships with my teammates and clients. When I show up to work as my true self, others feel like they can follow suit. And that’s when the magic happens. Bonus: it makes work a lot more rewarding…and fun!
5. Fall in the Washington, D.C., and Baltimore area is beautiful. What’s your favorite way to enjoy the season outdoors?
I try to escape the city to enjoy some apple cider donuts apple picking in Maryland’s farmlands each year but I’m also just as happy enjoying the fall colors and cool temps while shopping on M Street in Georgetown. A nice run in Great Falls or the National Arboretum is on my short list, too!
