Account Executive
Kate brings more than 20 years of association management experience, with deep expertise in event management and technology integrations. She helps clients discover more efficient, effective, and strategic ways to deliver meetings, share information, manage data, and improve processes. In addition to overseeing client events, Kate’s background in education and leadership allows her to work closely with board members as they advance their organizations.
Credentials:
- Certified Association Executive (CAE)
- Certified Meeting Professional (CMP)
- Hybrid Events Certified
- Smartsheet Product Certified User
- AI Enhanced Event Professional
- Member, American Society of Association Executives
- Member, Michigan Society of Association Executives
- Member, Meeting Professionals International
More about Kate
What is the most unusual thing in your desk drawer?
I’m scanning my desktop right now (no drawers on the desk!) and among the papers, file folders, pens, notebooks and pads of sticky notes, there are two things that likely would make someone say “WHAT is THAT?” or “WHY do you have those?” – an 8-sided cube and a stack of blank 3×4 namebadges.
We’ll start with the 8-sided cube, which is actually an EARLY Tracker device. This is the time tracking software I use, and this tracker allows me to easily assign the eight sides to different projects or clients, and simply by setting that side upright, it will start and stop tracking. I’ve used this software (previously called Timeular) since 2020 and it’s been the easiest method I’ve found to tracking both broad-level and highly detailed time entries.
The second thing isn’t unusual necessarily but when someone sees it, they usually ask “why?” I have printed many, many, MANY namebadges over the years, typically using the standard 3×4 stock. I don’t like waste and unfortunately with namebadge stock there’s usually a border that gets torn off as well as empty badges at the end of the run. I definitely recycle the thin borders but the 2×4” top and bottom margins get stacked in a pile and the empty 3×4” badges at the end of a print run get stacked in a second pile. I use these endless piles to have quick note paper in the perfect size within reach at any/all times. Some people use notebooks; I use these small “cards” because I can re-organize them into an order I need things completed, or I can drop in my pocket as I run out the door and need to make a call on the road, or I can jot a note to slide into an event file. When I don’t need it, I don’t have to keep it in my notebook – I can discard the note completely.
How old were you when you had the worst haircut ever, and what style was it?
I was about two (I’m told) and one of my older sisters gave me a haircut. I’m not sure there was any “style” to it – she would have been about 3-4 years old. But I was very proud of it and walked out saying “ta da!”. Apparently it was not so much a haircut as a hair hacking.
If you weren’t doing what you do today, what other job would you have?
I started in association work immediately after high school and have simply never left. However, I did go to school for special education, graduating from MSU with a Bachelors Degree in Deaf Education. My plan at the time was to work with families with children in the birth to five-year-old range to assist them with early education and communication options. I would like to think if I had a massive career change, I would go back to this pathway!
What “lesson from mom” do you still live by today?
The first thing that pops into my mind is that I should always check for a coupon. While that makes me laugh and think fondly of my mother and her super-human ways of getting everything on discount, I cannot sum up into a quick quote just one single lesson from her. Her entire life, her presence, her influence, her work ethic, her selflessness and generosity, her devotion to family and loving us with so many home cooked meals – these are just SOME of the many things that I live by. And while I am fortunate to also have a dad that provided some very similar and incredible values to live by, I do have a lesson from my dad that I can sum up: “Look it up.” I have a clear recollection of being told that time and time again when asking my dad something. I attribute my ability to navigate online searches better than most people to this ingrained lesson. And with that skill, I am able to learn new things, find opposing arguments, secure discounts (thanks Mom!), and dig up information that seems buried in a world of too much information.
If you could be any animal, what would it be and why?
Part of me would want to pick a bird of some sort, probably an eagle, because it would be amazing to fly. But I wouldn’t want to be that size or that vulnerable.
Part of me would want to pick a chimpanzee simply because they’re so much like us I think I could handle it and swinging from trees looks incredibly fun.