Kate Honea | Senior Marketing Manager at Macerich

If you’ve been in Boulder for any period of time, chances are high you’ve been shopping at the 29^th Street Mall.   Much more than just a mall, 29^th Street is a community destination for some awesome events like the Bolder Boulder, live music concerts in the summer and Miracle on 29^th Street featuring the Christmas tree lighting with Santa.

As Senior Marketing Manager for the 29^th Street, Kate Honea is one of the people who makes the mall more than just a shopping center.  From overseeing the advertising of 29^th Street as a whole, organizing PR and community relations, to scheduling events throughout the year, Honea constantly juggles her responsibilities, helping to make 29^th Street a solid participant in Boulder’s community lifestyle.

Born and raised in Niwot, Honea graduated CU-Boulder with a degree in Fine Arts, with an emphasis in Drawing.  Not convinced that she was going to continue as an artist in her career path, Honea pursued other career options after graduating college.

“I was looking for a marketing position or possibly something in advertising.  I felt that would be a solid career path but one that you could still use your creative side to some extent.”

After finishing school, Honea was hired on as an Assistant Marketing Manager with Macerich, a company that manages retail properties across the West and for two properties in Santa Barbara, CA.  Honea spent six years in California before moving back to Boulder in summer 2011 to take on the role of Senior Marketing Manager for the 29^th Street and Flatirons Malls.

As Senior Marketing Manager for a very active retail community, Honea’s job both challenges and rewards her given the constantly shifting nature and the many aspects and responsibilities demanded of her in the role.

“At the beginning of the day, I have my list of things to do, but at the end of the day, it’s gone in so many different directions that only half the list has gotten done, but you’re still accomplishing things.  Being responsible for so many avenues, every day is different.  It’s one of the things that I’ve loved about this job.”

Despite the constantly changing nature of her job and the challenges that go along with managing such a large property, Honea says she is most rewarded by the knowledge that the malls become part of each town’s culture.

“The shopping centers I’ve been able to work with, they’re not just a place for people to go and shop and buy things, they really add value to that community whether it’s through outreach and sponsorships or events like having Santa light the big tree at Christmas, or the fundraising we do to benefit the area.

29^th Street has many events hosted throughout the course of the year including the Boulder Home and Garden Show, Summer Concert Series, Fight Fire with Beer festival, Paris Street Markets, and in the winter, Miracle on 29^th Street with Santa’s Arrival and Tree Lighting.

Honea’s favorite event?  The 29^th Street’s Summer Concert Series, this year featuring That 80’s Band, Chase N’ The Dream, Quemando Salsa and others.

“The concerts are fun,” Honea says.  “Boulder is a community that really appreciates live music.  Last year we had participation from local breweries, and this year we’re getting food trucks to join us. It has a very Boulder feel to it.”

Each month during the Concert Series, proceeds from the concerts will benefit a different non-profit.

As for her involvement with 2140, Honea and her husband have been actively involved in the organization ever since coming back to Boulder in 2011, attending happy hours and networking events.

“2140 has been great both personally and professionally.  Personally it’s been great because you’re looking to meet other young people who are doing the same kinds of things you’re doing, and professionally it’s all about establishing relationships and building connections with other leaders in the community.”

Looking forward, Honea is very excited for Trader Joe’s to open (hopefully in October!), continuing to grow community relationships with new vendors, 29^th Street’s event lineup, and continuing to build relationships personally and professionally through 2140.

5 Questions with Nancy Chin-Wagner | Founder and Owner of Nancy Chin-Wagner LLC and President of Boulder Networking International

April Happy Hour Preview- Aji Latin American Restaurant

2140′s April Happy Hour is in just over a week and this month, we’re meeting at Ají Latin American Restaurant.

Located on the corner of 16th and Pearl Street, Ají’s vibrant decor and colorful Latin and South American art (including pieces from the pre-Colombian Incan Empire and Andes woven wool tapestries) suffuse the restaurant with a vibrant and festive atmosphere.  Guests can choose to mingle in one of the niches complete with comfy leather couches, dine with friends at a table or enjoy a happy hour special at the bar.

While the name Ají comes from the Caribbean word for pepper, the ají pepper is popular in Peruvian cuisine.  Indeed, the pepper makes up one-third of the Peruvian condiment trinity together with red onion and garlic.  The most common form of the pepper, the aji amarillo pepper is used in a variety of dishes ranging throughout Central and Latin America.

One of several Boulder-area establishments supported by local farms, Ají (along with eight other restaurants) gets produce from the Three Leaf Farm in Lafayette including heirloom tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, salad greens, spinach, squash and pumpkins, broccoli, beans and fresh herbs.  They have apple, plum, apricot, peach, and cherry trees and will soon add raspberries, blueberries, blackberries and strawberries to their repertoire.  In addition to the produce, the Three Leaf Farm is also home to goats and over 50 chickens, all of which contribute to the delicious menu offerings at Aji and the eight other restaurants, providing valuable products like goats’ milk (for goat cheese) and eggs.

At Ají’s happy hour from 3-6 every day (and Sundays from 3-close), you can choose to sip on a Spicy Strawberry mojito or try their house made sangria.  Nibble on poached lobster and banana ceviche, duck taquitos, or poblano tortas with asadero cheese and avocado.  See more of their menu offerings here.

This month, join Boulder 2140 members and young professionals at Ají to enjoy an extended happy hour menu featuring $3.50 beers, $4.50 margaritas, mojitos, and wells, plus delicious food specials!

Wednesday, April 24th from 5:30-7 p.m.

Ají Latin American Restaurant

1601 Pearl Street, Boulder

Click here to register for 2140′s April Happy Hour.

We hope to see you there!

Margo Pergola | Community Relationship Manager at the American Cancer Society

What’s it like to network for a living? Margo Pergola, Community Relationship Manager at the American Cancer Society, could certainly tell you all about that. Her job involves meeting people and engaging the community.

With cancer affecting one in three people, and Pergola’s family not unaffected by cancer, she knew it would be easy to be passionate about working for an organization like the American Cancer Society. What appealed to her most about the position was the ability to get out in the community, talk with other people and form relationships with others through her work.  It was right up her alley.

With a background in sales and event planning in the wedding industry, and an infectious positive personality, it’s easy to see where Pergola would excel in this position. Her tasks range from organizing event venues, recruiting volunteers, and coordinating sponsorships, and she is constantly on the move.

“My days are very busy.  I’m juggling a lot of projects at any one time.”

Two to three days a week, Pergola goes out into the community, hers being the Boulder area and CU-Boulder, in order to spread the word about the many services and programs offered by the American Cancer Society.

“I network in order to find people interested in Relay for Life, our biggest fundraiser for ACS, and in order to find participants and volunteers for our committees.  So much of my job is not about what you know, it’s about who you know.”

Pergola has a talent for putting together successful volunteer teams and committees and takes great pride in seeing the work that those volunteers are able to accomplish.

            “I work hard to find people, finding those – right – people and seeing them all come together to do their thing.  I’m rewarded in knowing that I put them all together, that it’s something I had a hand in.  [It’s about] getting the right people together and watching magic happen.”

How has Boulder 2140 helped you?

Pergola joined Boulder 2140 just over four months ago, but she readily admits that it is one of her favorite groups.

“My very first luncheon with 2140, I’ve never felt so comfortable.  I felt like I was meeting people who just wanted to be my friend.  I never once had to talk about my own business to socialize.  After that first luncheon, I remember me and four other girls hugging because we had become friends.”

Since then, Pergola has gone to many other 2140 events, networking and engaging with other young professionals in the organization, and even within the community.  Pergola is encouraged by those attending 2140 and Chamber events; emphasizing the importance of networking and getting to know others in the community.

“The more people you know, the more successful you’ll be.  You can learn a lot from people.  That’s why it’s important to be involved with something like 2140.  The more contacts you have, the more you know about things on in the community.  For these reasons and many more, you should be involved in networking.

What’s ahead for you and the American Cancer Society?

Relay for Life is THE big event for the American Cancer Society and we’re always looking for volunteers and those interested in forming a team. If you are interested in participating in the Boulder area Relay for Life or forming a team, the event will be July 26-27 starting at 6 p.m. at Potts Field.  More information can also be found at www.relayforlife.com/boulderco

5 Questions with Kendra Prospero | Owner of Turning the Corner LLC

Looking forward to our April Brain Food lunch, we sat down with Kendra Prospero, owner of Turning the Corner LLC to talk to her about what has made her business so successful.

 What is the most rewarding thing about your job now?
Being totally aligned with what my values and my strengths are and getting to do it every day.  I feel like I get to make a difference in people’s lives which is something I’ve always wanted to do.  I also really love running the business.  I love my team, I love managing everybody and I love to lead.

 What are you hoping attendees take away from your discussion?
Next to who you’re married to, your job is the number one thing that will determine your happiness or unhappiness in your life so it can be very all-consuming if you hate your job.  My hope is that attendees walk away knowing that they CAN be in a job that they love.  It takes putting together a strategic plan and in some cases it can take more time for everything to come together, but you can get there and there are people out there who can help if you feel lost or unclear.
  What would you say are the most important skills to have for someone in a position similar to yours and what advice would you give to someone looking to break into the industry in which you currently work?
One of the most important traits to have to be successful as an entrepreneur, is the ability to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.  You’ve got to have the stomach for running your own business and will have to be pretty at peace with your feelings around money realizing that a key source of discomfort will be the financial decisions you’ll have to make.  All great leaders have great teams so you’ll need to be good at delegating and delegating means that you have to have an inherent trust in other people.  Many people who are hitting road blocks in their business are having issues with trust.  Be adaptable.  One key to my success has been an ability to let go of specific outcomes I had in mind and from a more general vision, leave a little space to allow things to unfold and shift and turn into products and projects better than I could have imagined.  Lastly, strive for Work/Life focus.  Its important to realize that there is simply no way everything is going to get done.  Focus fully on work when that’s where you are and focus fully on family, play, friends, etc. when that’s where you are.  Make peace with the undone things and leave them where they need to be.

What is your dream job?
My mission in life is to transform the way people think about work and from where I am now, I’m already in my dream job, but I know there are bigger things ahead.