Upon returning to Syracuse, she tried waitressing at a fancy restaurant, but after two days found out that it wasn't for her (Hey, it's really hard work! A "shout out" to all waiters and waitresses of the world!). Her next stop in the job search was Syracuse University, where she was hired as a receptionist at the Division of International Programs Abroad, even though she locked her keys in the car during the interview (not a great first impression) but she got the job anyway! She loved the job, her coworkers, and the excitement of helping students prepare for studying overseas, and soon started taking part-time graduate courses in public relations at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, where she received her master's degree in 1980.
That same year, Benette was hired as Public Relations Director for Cazenovia College, which back then was an all-women's college located in a quaint, lakeside village about 20 minutes southeast of Syracuse. As a one-woman operation (the "Director" title was always a little precarious since she didn't really direct anyone except herself!), she wrote press releases; arranged photo shoots; worked with local television producers and news reporters; wrote speeches; and composed/designed newsletters and brochures among a thousand other things. One could say it was here she got her training to be a mother, learning to balance a million tasks at once. The job didn't pay that well in terms of money, but she did gain a lot of great writing and design experience, which was kind of like putting her formal education into action while building a portfolio. She also taught a news-writing course that involved putting together the campus newspaper, The Quad.
After two years at Cazenovia College, Benette was hired as Publications Director for Sargent-Webster-Crenshaw & Folley, an architectural-engineering firm in Syracuse that had offices throughout the Northeast. Her responsibilities included writing press releases and preparing promotional and marketing materials, such as proposals, reports, brochures, video productions, and poster presentations. During that time, she got married and soon after, out popped her first child, an adorable red-head named Eli, followed three-and-a-half years later by his cute and cuddly little sister, Kallie.
After seven years at the architectural firm, Benette became a video producer for Community General Hospital in Syracuse. She wrote and recorded video used for patient education, and she co-managed the hospital's closed circuit television station. It was during her five years there that she wrote her first four children's books and made the decision to return to teaching at the college level. She taught a non-credit class in Writing for Children at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, and then began teaching writing at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) and Syracuse University. Last year, she received tenure at SUNY ESF, where she has also received the Outstanding Teaching Award and the President's Award for Community Service.
Benette is pursuing a doctoral degree in Cultural Studies at Syracuse University's School of Education. Her dissertation is an ethnographic study of the children's book section at Barnes & Noble, looking at areas of consumerism/consumption, diversity, and the family outing.
Benette's son, Eli, is almost all grown up now and a psychology major at Syracuse University, where he follows in the footsteps of his grandparents, uncles, aunts, and other relatives that graduated from the school. Kallie is a senior at Fayetteville-Manlius High School, where she especially enjoys art, music, and English. She also works at an espresso bar and runs a small silk screening business on the side. They all live together (when they're not out and about) in a 100-year-old home in Fayetteville, New York.
Ben and Jeanette Whitmore (Now, think fast! Who gets the derivation of Benette's
name? The first person to answer correctly wins a Slinky!) are her steadfast
and loving parents, who have supported and encouraged her since she picked
up her very first fat pencil and jumbo crayons in pre-school, announcing that
she would be a writer someday, starting right now. They didn't discourage
her when she conversed with her imaginary friend, Ethyl, with true conviction
in kindergarten until Ethyl moved away in first grade. Ben and Jeanette live
in Manlius, New York, in summer months and in Wesley Chapel, Florida, in the
winter. Benette's brothers Tom and Jack
are both musicians, and her nephews Alex (electric guitar aficionado) and
Ben (drummer extraordinaire) are, too.
Benette's best friend, companion, and number one dance partner is Tom McGrath, a gifted musician, composer, and producer. They love kayaking together in the summer, and snowshoeing in the winter, as well as spending time with friends and family, whether it's listening to local bands, going to films, or enjoying dinners together. Tom and Benette love hanging out with Toshie (born January, 1992) and Buddy (born October, 2005), two incredibly smart and sassy West Highland White Terriers.
