Varju Luceno

Introducing Varju Luceno - Communications and Marketing Specialist for the DAISY Consortium

"I strongly believe that all people should have access to information and I find it rewarding to contribute to improving technologies that benefit humanity."

I was born and raised in Northeastern Europe, in Estonia to be precise, by parents who encouraged reading, traveling, helping others and creating meaningful relationships. Little did I know where my love of books and travel, and the benevolence my parents had instilled in me would lead.

My Dad enrolled me in an English immersion school when I was six, providing me with an early foundation for the language. My entrepreneurial journey began at the age of 12 - I was selling homegrown apples and potatoes in farmer's market. Even though I was too young to have taken any sales or marketing courses, I realized that I had to have nicer looking apples, clean potatoes and a smile on my face in order to sell more apples than my neighbor in the adjacent booth. Perhaps this realization came to me naturally.

I graduated with a degree in Library Science from Tallinn Pedagogical University in Estonia and then enjoyed a career in Tartu (the second largest city in Estonia) as a reference librarian for eight years; I spent my days surrounded by books and information-hungry patrons. It was a 'dream' job - who wouldn't want to get paid for reading newspapers and books, talking to people, and helping them find the information they need. However, there were no books in the library for the people who were blind and none of those people had guide dogs – these things were a luxury and far too expensive. I lived in a country that provided little help for people with disabilities. This was true of many countries then, but things have improved and continue to improve in Estonia and elsewhere. People everywhere are learning that “access to information is a fundamental human right”.

Shortly afterwards, I moved from that lovely university town to live on a small farm in a remote area. I was asked to teach English at a local school. There were some very talented students with dyslexia and I discovered that they were able to master new material and grammar rules more easily when they read the text and heard the words at the same time. I wish we had had DAISY players in Estonia then, they would have made a huge difference to those young students.

My life has been filled with challenges. One of these included a five year stint translating for missionaries and businessmen who found their way to Estonia in the early nineties - language and words continued to be an important part of my life. As for my apparently inherent marketing skills, my brother and I opened a restaurant that catered to international groups. I became the Marketing Manager and he managed day-to-day operations.

In 1993, while serving on an international project in Northern Ireland, I met my husband (now of 12 years). About four years later he convinced me to move to the United States. On January 8, 1997 as I stood in the Missoula Airport with two suitcases by my side I had no clue what I was getting myself into. As it turned out I had to reinvent my life and career yet once again.

While working for a local printing company I became acquainted with the business 'scene' in Missoula. Although I enjoyed the work, I wanted to learn new technologies, graphic and web design and further my education. I went back to school and graduated from the University of Montana MBA program in 2003. After working in a Missoula bank advising business customers, I followed my dream and started my own virtual marketing support services company, Global Office Partners, LLC in 2006.

I am also a mother, triathlete, traveler and an information junkie!