Rego continues, “What sets me apart from the average social media consultant is that first and foremost, I’m a trainer. I love to teach people new concepts, guide them through the scary parts and watch the light go on over their heads. The fact that I get to teach Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest is a bonus. I also get really excited about showing people some of the most amazing and game-changing ways that social media and technology have been applied to the world around us.”
What did you do professionally before you started your own business?
There was a lot. I was a technical recruiter, an actress/model, worked in accounting, a personal/executive assistant, a secret shopper, a catering waiter and a bartender.
Where did you grow up?
I was born and raised in Santa Rosa. I’ve lived here my whole life except for 2001 to 2006 when I lived in Indio, Calif., near Palm Springs. My husband is a scratch golfer, and we lived in the golf mecca so he could play seven days per week, 365 days per year. We moved back when we had our daughter.
How did you meet your spouse?
I’m married to Daniel Rego, owner of All Pro Painting & Construction. We went to Rincon Valley Junior High together, met at 13, didn’t start dating until 1999 and married in 2003 in Riviera Maya, Mexico.
What do you love to do outside of work?
I love to learn in any way that I can. I also really enjoy going to outdoor events with my 6-year-old daughter—Downtown Market, Rose Parade, festivals, fairs, concerts, anything to get us out of the house and enjoying beautiful Sonoma County.
Describe one of your happiest life moments.
My daughter’s first birthday party was a wonderful coming together of mine and my husband’s families, my best friends were there and it was the first time all of us moms were together. It was a beautiful day and I’d kept my daughter alive for a year. Being responsible for another person’s life was bigger than I thought it would be.
Are you a creature of habit?
I embrace change more than anyone I’ve ever known. Due to my parents’ divorce and joint custody, I attended eight schools in 13 years. I grew up having to adapt to a new environment every time I turned around. I do have habits, but I’m always tweaking the formula to make it better. I love the unexpected—it really makes life fun. Every day is a new chapter and you never know the ending.
If you had to sing a karaoke song, what would it be?
After years of musical theater, if you’re not “bringing it,” I can’t bear to listen. If I were to sing, it would be “I’m Just a Girl Who Can’t Say No” from “Oklahoma.” I was Ado Annie in a production at Rincon Valley Middle School, and that song is a hoot to sing with a full Oklahoman accent. I don’t sing it, I perform it. My cousin and I both played Ado Annie (her excellent performance was the reason I wanted the part), so at her wedding reception, she and I sang it together. It’s one of the two times I’ve sung karaoke in my life and it’s a memory I cherish.
Who was the most influential person in your life, besides you parents, and what important lesson did he or she instill?
My grandmother told me that computers were the way of the future when I was 8. I didn’t believe her at the time, but she’s a very intelligent woman and those words were prophetic. She made sure I learned how to type, put me on the computer and gave me many opportunities to experience technology at a time when it wasn’t common. When I graduated with a degree in computer software, I asked her if she remembered her words of advice and she just smiled.
If you were given $5,000 to spend in any store in the world, where would you shop?
ThinkGeek.com. It’s an online tech geek store full of toys and fun items that have function but make you smile at the same time.
What do you do to relax?
I walk in the woods, go to the beach, or enjoy the outdoors in a solitary way. I treasure silence and feel best when I’m in nature just being there.
Where’s your favorite place to be?
Armstrong Woods way up high away from everyone else where it’s quiet.
What advice can you give that can help people conquer fear?
Fear won’t kill you. We try new things every single day. Take a deep breath and step into it. You’ll be OK.
