Kimberly Hall’s job with Seattle’s Convention &Visitors Bureau requires her to “sell” our city as a great place to host all manner of events – everything from conventions and meetings, to reunions and weddings. For those of us who know and love Seattle it sounds like a “dream job” and for those who know and love Kimberly Hall, it’s a perfect match.

Kimberly came by this position through a thoughtful process of elimination and seeking appropriate experience during her years at the UW. With lots of leadership background gathered in high school, but unclear about her future plans, she took business classes such as marketing and public speaking that would serve her well in any field, and determined that accounting and economics were not going to be her calling. (She makes a good point that realizing what you are not interested in is often “easier to pin down” than what you are interested in, and can be a good place to start the process of choosing a major.)

Meanwhile, other experiences she encountered as part of her college life contributed to her eventual choice to major in Communications. Serving as the House Manger for her sorority, she dealt with responsibilities such as organizing fire drills, coordinating rooms for the following quarter, and contacting repair people for plumbing or cable problems. Perhaps not glamorous, but she was learning to communicate about everyday problems and solutions with a variety of people.

On the other hand, her sorority holiday party was a fun project which gave her the opportunity to help with the details of planning an event. She was caught up in the excitement of it and began to consider a career in hospitality. As the UW did not have a “hospitality” degree as such, she focused on a major in Communications again backed up with general business

During the fall quarter of her sophomore year she enrolled in Professor Coutu’s Introduction to Communication class. Professor Coutu’s enthusiasm for teaching abroad was infectious and inspired Kimberly to add studying abroad to her college experiences. The quarter she spent in Rome was her first time in another country. She was able to attend the Winter 2006 Olympic Games in Torino, travel to several European cities, all while completing two more classes which were requirements for her Communications major. Not to mention the fact that traveling is a fabulous way to gain insight into the hospitality industry.

Today, Kim assists two national Account Directors and has learned how the local hotels and Seattle’s Convention & Visitors Bureau interact to support each other and bring business to our area. And making the most of where she is allows her to learn and explore the variety of hospitality venues and make informed choices for her career path.

Wherever Kim eventually finds herself, there is no doubt she will be well-prepared and still eager to learn!\

— Written by Alyce Mallett