Meet the Advocate: Teresa Murray
We were excited to get to hear PIRG Consumer Watchdog Program Director Teresa Murray’s personal story as part of our new series.
Let’s start at the beginning. What are your roots?
My physical roots are in Northeast Ohio. I've lived in Greater Cleveland my entire life, except for a four-year period when I lived and worked in Charlotte, NC. In terms of my career roots: I'm a journalist by trade and have always been passionate about educating and empowering consumers.
Describe your first politicizing experience. Why did it have such an impact on you?
I've always been interested in politics. In college, I was a journalism major and political science minor. I am particularly interested in the negotiations that take place in politics or in business or in life. Compromise is necessary to get things done.
Who or what has most influenced your direction in life?
The occurrences that most influenced my direction in life: First, Watergate – stunning abuse of power and what happens when it's exposed. Second, growing up poor and learning how to navigate the world and look out for myself and my family, because you can't count on others to do it for you.
Tell us about your career before your work here.
As I mentioned, I'm a journalist by trade. I always thought I was going to be a great political reporter, but I was recruited to cover health care for a North Carolina newspaper early in my career. I then transitioned into business journalism. I worked for 30 years for daily newspapers and a business magazine. Before joining PIRG in July 2020, I spent the last 22 years as a personal finance columnist and business writer covering banking and finance for Ohio's largest newspaper, the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
How did you get your start working with The Public Interest Network and what appealed to you about working here?
I was recruited to the network after leaving The Plain Dealer in early 2020 when the paper closed the entire newsroom. Ed Mierzwinski, whom I'd worked with for years and quoted from time to time in stories about identity theft and data breaches, recommended me for the Consumer Watchdog director position. Once upon a time, I never thought I'd leave journalism. But I saw this as a logical next chapter in my work on behalf of consumers.
Teresa’s work setup is Room Rater approved! Their judgment: “Love the purple brick. Orchid. Shoes. License plate. We are pro PIRG. 10/10 @teresamurray”
What skills or lessons do you think you’ve picked up so far in your time with PIRG?
I've learned about building a coalition to get things done, and how to try to work with people you disagree with on tons of issues. That doesn't matter if you can come together on one issue where you have common ground.
What are you most excited about in your current work?
I'm most excited about being able to take public positions on issues, which I generally couldn't do as a journalist. I'm also excited about being able to try to influence public policy at the local, state or federal level.
Teresa and husband Michael in the mountains in Asheville, NC.
Are you working from home? If so, give us the insider look at your work-from-home setup?
I do work from home. I've actually worked primarily at home since late 2013 after my newspaper shifted reporters to remote work to reduce lease expenses. I have a dedicated home office; my husband has his own office too -- he owns his own business. We’re on different floors so we don’t bother each other during calls or at other times.
We also have a nice deck and half-acre yard with lots of trees at our home here in suburban Cleveland. We have a router extension so we can get good WiFi outside when we want a change of scenery.
What else would you like people to know about you?
I'm married to my college sweetheart Michael. We have two sons. Our older son Drew is a magician who does corporate events and has a residency show at Hotel LeVeque in Columbus. His pending marriage to Kelly, a veterinarian, has been rescheduled twice because of COVID; it's now set for September. Our younger son Eric worked for a venture capital firm and just left in December to join my husband's business. He's also passionate about music; he sings and records his own beats.
I enjoy bicycling, house projects, classic rock and most sports, and I’m a homer for my Cleveland teams, even when they underperform. We're fortunate to have most of our immediate family in Greater Cleveland, including my parents and my father-in-law.
How can people reach you if they’d like to be in touch?
My phone number is 216-202-0496.
On social media:
Twitter: @teresamurray
Instagram: teresamurray216
facebook.com/murraymoneymatters
linkedin.com/in/teresadixonmurray
Teresa, Eric (with glasses), Drew and Michael.
