by Moira Cullings
moira.cullings@theleaven.org
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Her extensive marketing experience and lifelong Catholic faith might be a match made in heaven for the new role Marissa Easter took on this fall.
Easter became the new director of communications for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas on Oct. 30.
She succeeds Anita McSorley, who served as part-time communications director since 2014 while being managing editor of The Leaven.
The communications position has now been expanded to a full-time position and includes additional responsibilities.
Easter, her husband and their two daughters belong to St. John Paul II Parish in Olathe.
She grew up in New Mexico and spent most of her life dreaming of becoming a doctor.
While attending the University of New Mexico as a pre-med student, she realized a career in medicine wasn’t for her.
“I wanted more of a work-life balance,” said Easter. “So, my dad, who has been in sales and marketing his whole life, said, ‘I think you have a personality in marketing. You should look into that.’”
It turned out her dad was right.
Easter majored in business management and earned her MBA in organizational behavior and human resources.
For the past 13 years, she’s worked in marketing and communications in a variety of industries, including sports, information security, e-commerce and fashion, insurance, banking and real estate.
Her longest role was as director of marketing for ReeceNichols Real Estate, which she held for four years.
Transitioning from the corporate world to the Catholic Church has been smooth.
“I’m a cradle Catholic,” she said, “so I grew up in a super devout family. It was a huge part of my life growing up.”
In her new role, Easter will work on three main forms of communications: internal (within the chancery), “midternal” (out to the parishes) and external (out to parishioners and the general public).
“I hope that being here I’m a bridge to the parishes, just to get out more of the good news of what’s going on,” she said, “and for those in the parishes and the clergy to feel comfortable reaching out to me and helping them deliver their messages.”
She’ll also oversee the archdiocesan website and social media and will serve as the media liaison.
Carla Mills, chief financial officer for the archdiocese, said Easter’s previous experience is pertinent to the work she’ll be doing.
“She also showed initiative and enthusiasm for our mission and a sense of urgency in completing tasks and campaigns,” said Mills.
“Her references were outstanding,” she continued, “and showed she went above and beyond her job responsibilities by initiating and creating charitable endeavors at her former employers.”
And Easter’s love of God and his church was just the cherry on top.
Mills has high hopes that Easter will enhance communications in the archdiocese.
“Most importantly,” she said, “I want her to weave herself into the very fabric of the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas to help us spread the good news of Jesus Christ.
“We see too much of the harsh realities of this world on a daily basis, and it is important to balance that with the reality that Jesus walks with us in every circumstance.
“We are never alone.”
Easter is eager to join the archdiocese in spreading that message, and she doesn’t take the chance to share her faith through work for granted.
“It’s amazing,” she said, “and it’s so rare that you get that opportunity. I’ve spent my whole career in the corporate world, so this has been really refreshing.”
