A few years after graduating cum laude from FDU — and a few years before establishing herself as one of the top B2B sales leaders in New Jersey — Heather Long packed everything she owned, or at least everything she could fit, into her Mazda3 and made her way to Southern California.
Hollywood. Sunshine. Action. A spot near Marina del Ray.
Once there, she did her thing — managing public relations opportunities and producing can’t-miss events for big stars and major projects, including Oscar-winning films.
It was great.
“I can play, ‘What’s your favorite celebrity story?’ for days,” she said.
“I wouldn’t trade my time in Southern California for anything. It was an incredible experience.”
But it wasn’t Jersey.
After nearly four years, she came home.
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Long, never short on confidence or energy, returned to New Jersey with a newfound focus.
Her final job in Southern California, working at LA Weekly, showed her that the fast-paced world of media — a sector that blends the rush of breaking news, the steadiness of long-term projects, and a desire to bring both together in knockout events — was exactly where she belonged.
After sampling a number of entities on both sides of the river, she landed at BINJE as its first hire.
“I was drawn by the desire to do business reporting in a new way: We’re all business, but we’re not boring,” she said. “We have fun.”
Long, ever the marketer, gave the site a new tagline: ‘Real People. Real Journalism. Real Business Stories.’
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Long’s official title at BINJE is ‘Head of Business Development.’
Her unofficial job description is ‘a little bit of everything.’
She manages dozens of partners in a single day — and recently secured BINJE’s 100th advertiser — ensuring they find their place on the website, in the newsletter, in the print edition, and at events.
And while it seems as if it’s more than anyone could possibly handle, it’s not all that she does.
Long is proud to be an active member of the The Woman’s Club of Morristown, a non-profit dedicated to supporting families and children in need.
“Women are simply amazing,” she said. “I always want to be around women supporting other women.”
And her dog, Bobby, a 4-year-old French Bulldog, keeps her grounded.
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There were a lot of great things about California. And while it certainly was fun while it lasted, Long says she’s glad to be back home.
Besides, she brought the best part of SoCal with her.
“Ever since I was little, everyone has called me ‘Little Miss Sunshine,’” she said. “I can’t think of a better nickname — or a better philosophy on life.”
