A History of Creative Ingenuity & Paying it Forward

Elyse Major's incredibly dynamic mind is always on. A RIC alumna and editor in chief of Providence Media Group, Major is publisher of not one but six award-winning lifestyle magazines that include the Providence Monthly, SO Rhode Island, The Bay Magazine and Hey Rhody, with a readership of roughly 100,000. For over a decade, Major has also contributed numerous articles and DIY projects to home décor magazines while running her own craft-making blog and authoring books.

One of the reasons she's been able to keep so many balls in the air is her exuberant creativity. Some people deep-think to achieve an end. Major is constantly innovating simply because it's the way her mind works. With lighthearted humor and quirky irreverence, she frees up her staff to do their best work as well.

"I loved working with Elyse," says RIC alumna Mikayla Bedard '20, who interned at Providence Media from January to May this year. "She's very upbeat, very positive and one of the most open and supportive people I've ever met. When I'd sit in on editorial meetings, I noticed a lot of respect shown to her and she shows a lot of respect for others."

Staff echo that praise, stating, "it's an incredible work environment," "super creative" and "everyone is always encouraging and supportive."

Another former intern wrote, "It's the first company that cared to stop and teach me the basics of not only an industry but how to be professional and produce great work …You really could go to most anyone and ask them how to do something and do it better. Every single person here was willing to teach and that was invaluable to someone fresh out of college."

Supporting interns and staff is not only the job of a leader, it's Major's way of paying it forward. "I really try to give any advice I can and open doors for other people, because I feel super thankful to be where I am," she says.

Major knows that if an editor hadn't taken a chance on her and published her first article she might not be where she is today. Once that first article was published in one of her favorite home décor magazines, she no longer had to pitch her ideas, instead she became a trusted and consistent contributor.

In 2018 Major was hired by Providence Media, producing magazines focused on local food, arts and culture – a job, it seems, made to order for Major.

"It's my dream job," she says. "I love the work. All the ideas in my brain that never shut off, I can use on this job."

Along with acting as the "face" of the company from a public relations standpoint, Major also works collaboratively with the editorial team, developing content, assigning and writing content; proofreading and editing content; working with the art department on corresponding visuals; and overseeing social media.

Much of the staff had been laid off in March due to COVID-19; however, Major continued on, writing for the company’s Web and social media sites. Bedard, who was halfway through her internship at Providence Media, had been laid off, too. But she emailed Major saying she’d like to continue to help in any way she could.

"It was really heartwarming," Major recalls. "She became my remote right hand. I'll never forget it. It meant so much to me."

Major, in turn, gave Bedard her first byline in SO Rhode Island magazine. (See the Front Porch Project by Bedard.)

"It was really cool having my first article out there," Bedard says. "Elyse showed a lot of trust in me. I owe her a lot."

Not only is Major paying it forward, she is someone who has paid her dues. 

"I'm exactly where I want to be," she says. "I'm 54. I've worked hard for a long time. This position is not a steppingstone for me. It's the pinnacle. This is where I've aspired to be and I'm super thankful."

Major is author of the blog Tinkered Treasures.com and of the following books: “Create Your Own IKEA” (RIDIBOOKS, 2017), “I Modify IKEA” (Ulysses Press, 2016), “50 Flatpack Hacks” (Murdoch Books, 2016), “Seaside Tinkered Treasures (CICO Books, 2014) and “Tinkered Treasures (CICO Books, 2013).