Whether he was laying bricks or selling sporting goods, Jarod Wescott had a marketer trapped in his body. Wescott, 29, of Athens graduated Skowhegan Area High School and entered the job market. But whatever the job Wescott was hired to do, he was passionate about finding ways to better promote his workplace. “Throughout the day, I’d constantly visualize better ways of promoting our business, and I’d work out some ideas through my graphic arts skills,” he said.

After a while, Wescott decided to put his knack for promoting to work as his regular job. So Wescott returned to college and eventually received a marketing degree. He first studied at Kennebec Valley Community College in Fairfield and graduated from University of Southern Maine in Gorham.

And now, he is putting those skills to work as Boothbay Region and Central Lincoln County YMCAs’ marketing director. For the former camp counselor at Waterville’s Boys’ and Girls’ Club, his new job is the one he envisioned as a college student. “One day I woke up and told myself I’m going back to school and study marketing. I’m lucky to have found a position which allows me to use my skills in graphic design to promote activities at two organizations which do so much good for the community and align with my values.”

Wescott grew up in Athens, a small Somerset County town of about 2,000. As a child, he didn’t participate in YMCA activities because Skowhegan didn’t have one. It wasn’t until he was a college student at KVCC that he became aware of the impact YMCAs had on local youth. “I realized working at the Boys’ and Girls’ Club how lucky these kids are. I didn’t have this growing up, and started wishing that I had,” Wescott said.

As a marketing director, he is responsible for the monthly newsletter and promoting all the activities at the two Lincoln County YMCAs. And for Wescott, using his graphic artist’s skills is more a passion than a profession. “If you’re doing what you love, it’s not really work to me. I can do this for hours and the time flies by because I have so much fun doing it.”

Wescott began his new job Nov. 19. He splits his time between the two YMCAs. He is still getting accustomed to his new job and believes within 3-4 months it will be like he’s been doing it his whole life.