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WIA Profile: Debra Peterson

What is your role and responsibility at Fairvilla?

I am the director of marketing, which can mean different things depending on the day. Typically, I am responsible for implementing all the advertising (from budgeting to placement), event planning and oversight, acting as Fairvilla's spokesperson and assisting with the development of new promotional opportunities for the company.

the more I network and continue to educate myself, the more respect I gain

Describe a typical Monday at your desk.

After drinking the appropriate amount of caffeine, I try to ignore the blinking light on my phone and dive into my email. I also catch up on the company's MySpace, Facebook and my Twitter account. That can take me to lunch. I almost never schedule meetings on Mondays.

What is the biggest challenge of being a woman in adult entertainment?

I think the challenges I face are the ones faced by most working women. I find that the more I network and continue to educate myself, the more respect I gain in the business community. Actually, most people I meet are very interested in the work that I do so I tend to have a great time talking about it.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?

Fairvilla is like one big family. I love seeing others in our company succeed. We share in our victories and pull together to face problems. We've also played a positive role in the progression of retailing to adults. I think that's something our whole team is very proud of.

How do you maintain balance in your life?

I'll let you know when that happens! Maintaining balance is tough. I'm married and have two children. There are rarely enough hours in the day and I do take work home. That being said, I think you have to make time for yourself. I try to wake up early so I can get to the gym before work. That's where I can really prepare for my day. I also love to go camping, boating, hiking and just being outdoors.

Each month, industry news media organization XBIZ spotlights the career accomplishments and outstanding contributions of Women in Adult. WIA profiles offer an intimate look at the professional lives of the industry's most influential female executives.

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