This past December, Arnulfo Moreno joined ISRI’s communications team as communications manager. He is responsible for the development and deployment of email communications including managing the EHS Update, Market Report and ISRI’s Monthly Photo Contest. Arnulfo will also be working on a wide variety of projects including managing the ISRI app and contributing to ISRI News.
In his own words, Arnulfo explains why he came to ISRI and how his unique skills and experiences will help members.
What is your role at ISRI?
I am a communications manager, which means that I will be doing a little bit of everything with regard to internal and external communications. Currently, I’m sending out emails, managing newsletters, writing articles, editing content and recording podcasts. I’ve also started working with the Safety Team and will be collaborating with them more. I’m also in the process of working on the ISRI app. Given the nature of communications in general, I imagine I will be working with most members/committees across the organization in some form and will be involved in a lot of ISRI’s upcoming projects.
Tell us about your background.
I was born and raised in Washington, D.C. (one of the few native-born Washingtonians who is still in the area). My mother is from Spain and my father from El Salvador. A bit of trivia: my name, Arnulfo, is a very old Spanish name that is rarely heard of outside of El Salvador (I don’t know why it’s so popular there). If you know Spanish, you might know the diminutive form of my name and can probably guess what my nickname was growing up.
With regards to communications, I kind of fell into this career. In college I studied everything from computer science, creative writing, social work, and theology to filmmaking. Eventually, I graduated with a media studies degree.
A few years after graduating I was working part time at Ford’s Theatre and ran into an old boss and friend, Adlai Amor. I had interned for him and his communications department at Bread for the World while I was in college. Adlai mentioned that his team had a new position for media relations, and I jumped at the opportunity. I gained a lot of experience (writing press releases, networking with journalists, analytics reporting, etc.) working with Adlai and I’m very grateful I got that chance.
After that, I entered the association world as a marketing and communications coordinator at the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS). At CAS I focused on website management and email marketing, along with managing a scholarship. Working with actuaries also taught me why my insurance rates are what they are.
From CAS, I went to the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) where my role shifted to more of a web-focused editorial position. As a communications manager there I managed a variety of newsletters, webpages and advocacy content. I also learned what gastroenterologists did and saw a variety of graphic medical images, which was interesting to say the least.
What made you apply for a job with ISRI?
In my previous positions, the associations were focused on members (actuaries, doctors) who worked for larger organizations (insurance companies, hospital systems). ISRI is an organization where its members own their companies. I haven’t really worked at an association with that focus and it really intrigued me.
Also, before I found the job posting, I thought of recycling as just the blue bin in my kitchen. As I read the ISRI website, I was fascinated to see that recycling is a billion-dollar industry that touches the majority of the products I use.
What are you looking forward to the most in working for ISRI?
Working with members. From my understanding, it’s a combination of large corporations and family-owned businesses. It’s the first time I get to work with these types of association members and so far, I find it fascinating. Seeing how my work can help impact safety in the industry or help businesses in their advocacy efforts is very motivating for me.
With regards to communications in general, I joined ISRI at the perfect time as the comms team is working on some amazing campaigns that will help give people like me a better understanding and appreciation of recycled materials. I’m excited by the content that has already been released and the stuff that will be rolled out over the next few months.
