Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Surman.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I graduated from Georgia College in 2016 with a degree in Mass Communication. I then started my career at a local newspaper in my college town. My passion was journalism and telling people’s stories. Then came 2020. COVID, the 2020 election and some other personal trials all hit at once and I knew that I needed a change. I ended up leaving the newspaper and ultimately got the Marketing Director job at The Plaza! Now in my job, I can still tell people’s stories – just in a different way.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It truly has been amazing. There’s only three of us on staff here at The Plaza. My boss, Susan Usry, has been an incredible leader and mentor and my co-worker, Vickie Spivey, is equally as passionate about what we do here. We make a great team. Since I’ve been here, The Plaza has grown into something that we are proud of. We are putting on more shows, involved more in our community, helping more kids get into the arts and providing a space where people can explore the arts!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
At The Plaza, I handle all of the marketing for our shows and events. The Plaza is a non-profit theater that offers entertainment once a month. Proceeds from the ticket sales of those shows goes back into what we do best – help our youth explore their creative side in the arts. I love that we give affordable, or free!, options for the community to come and see a live theatrical performance or create something fun with their families. The Plaza started producing a summer musical in collaboration with another arts organization, The Arts Barn, and it’s a huge effort to put all of that together. In addition, we started a young directors series, where a budding director chooses, casts and directs a show. This year, I am in charge of costumes and props for both endeavors. I am super excited to explore my creative side in those aspects. I think I am most proud of what The Plaza does as a whole – focuses on our youth and gives space for young artists to spread their wings.
What matters most to you? Why?
Career wise, probably integrity and doing what is right no matter what the circumstance. Having a journalist background, I have reported on a lot of bad people. So, being a good person and doing good matters a lot to me. Especially working somewhere that’s a non-profit, people donate their time and money to The Plaza, so being good stewards of their generosity is super important to me!
In my personal life, probably being a loving person. I really strive to be someone who is open hearted, caring and empathetic. I think so many of us, myself included, don’t experience enough love in the world, so I really try to give it freely. After dealing with a lot of mental health issues, it matters a lot to me to be present in the moment, seek joy and strive for a peaceful life.
My dog, Clyde, my husband, Colton and our families and friends stay on the top of my priority list as well!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://plazacenter.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theplazaartscenter/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theplazaarts
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theplazaartscenter5310
Image Credits
Pictures were taken by me at various Plaza events!
