This week we are lucky enough to meet Leanne Bolan from JCI Barnsley.

Which chamber are you a member of?
I am a member JCI Barnsley.

How long have you been a JCI member?
I have been a member since October 2013.

What made you join?
I first met Charlie Pearson and Ben Hawley (then Local President and Deputy President) at a local networking event. I took away their cards and started following JCI Barnsley on social media. Over several months I attended a few events and decided to join after a New Members Evening helped me realise I wanted to be more engaged with the local community and gain new skills while meeting like minded people.

What is the most interesting JCI event you've been to and why?
The most interesting JCI event I attended was the JCI Barnsley annual dinner in January this year. I participated in 'J Club 9' - even though being on stage fills me with dread! I was also awarded with Most Outstanding New Member. Probably not interesting in the traditional sense but it was interesting to me to notice the difference in myself gradually becoming less shy over my time as a member - the wine may have had something to do with it though!

Has JCI presented any unusual/interesting opportunities?
I think the most interesting event is yet to come with JCI Barnsley hosting the National Conference in November as it'll be the first time I'll be attending a JCI event on a large scale.

What is your job/career/profession/business?
I am a Marketing Executive at a West Yorkshire law firm with a background in content writing and journalism.

Has JCI had any impact on your job/career/profession/business?
Career wise JCI has given me the opportunity to speak with Greg Wright, Deputy Business Editor of the Yorkshire Post. At the event I got my workplace into the paper and picked up some press release tips. I'm also attending the Marketing Academy and my employer is expecting me to come back brimming with new ideas! In January I became the Marketing Director for JCI Barnsley and hopefully I can continue to transfer my professional skills to this role and things I learn as part of JCI to my career.

What's your proudest achievement?
My proudest achievement is doing a job I love as life's too short to do one you hate. I'm proud of the fact I actively looked for and found freelance then permanent work (that's what I was doing at the networking event were I met Charlie and Ben). Going to my first networking event was a personal challenge as I lacked confidence in talking to new people.

What is your favourite colour of socks to wear?
I don't think I own a pair of socks that's just one colour! They all have things like cupcakes and polka dots on them.

Tell us something crazy/dangerous/inspiring/unusual you have done
The craziest thing I've done is a reverse bungee job. I saw it in a pub car park on my drive home from work one Sunday afternoon and just thought why not. I'll admit to being scared when I thought my shoe was going to fly off and hit something/someone but overall I loved it!

Thanks Leanne.  I'm looking forward to national convention already :)