If I wasn’t doing this I’d be a: public relations consultant.

Most impressive person I’ve ever met is: Boni Johnson. She is a former board member who has become a dear friend. She is vivacious, artistic, quirky, fun, and a person who loves her community and friends with her full heart. She embodies the true definition of be who you are by walking to her own beat.

I unwind by: listening to music and spending time with my husband on our boat.

On my desk right now is: paperwork, my beta fish, Sunset, a few pelicans (I collect them), and a “take what you need” box that contains happiness, inspiration, patience, and other medallions for when someone is having a bad day.

My favorite IAVM program I ever attended was: while I have enjoyed all of them, the Senior Executive Symposium. It was a tremendous opportunity to supplement my leadership skills and style through classes taught by leading professors in the hospitality industry and build lifelong relationships all while soaking in the beautiful campus at Cornell.

If I were on the other side of the seats, I’d be a: show promoter. I co-founded a mentor program for women, so I would enjoy the opportunity to produce events designed to empower and bring women of all ages together.

One trait an up-and-coming venue manager should have is: the ability to remain calm under any given situation while thinking on your feet for creative solutions.

One of my goals for this year is to: successfully manage our facility’s election efforts to renew our operational millage in December and ensure funding for the next 10 years. I also intend to complete the CFE process.

How do you plan to help elevate the profession? I will continue to perform my job in the most professional, ethical, and efficient manner possible, while providing development opportunities for our team members to grow in the industry. I will also continue to volunteer and assist the efforts of IAVM in whatever capacity I can to move our profession forward.

Where do you see new growth opportunities in the profession? Technology is certainly a focus for continuing to improve efficiency. However, I think that there is a growing opportunity for a refocus on personal and one-on-one experiences. The personal touches are what people—our clients, sponsors, and the community—will remember long after they walk out of our doors. People will never forget how you made them feel.

How do you stay current with industry trends and developments? Involvement in IAVM, reading research and industry publications, and interacting with fellow industry professionals.

Who are three people you’d invite to a dinner party and why? I would invite my three daughters. Because as they continue to grow older and have families of their own and as I continue to maintain the busy schedule that is the norm in venue management, I’d love to have just a quiet evening reconnecting with them.

Kathy Lowrey is the General Manager at Northshore Harbor Center in Slidell, Louisiana.