Kari Bloom, Harrison International Seminars
Housing and Event Manager, Executive Assistant to the President
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Age: 33
Resume: Kari Bloom started with Harrison International Seminars when she was a freshman in college, doing odd jobs around the office. That part-time job has since grown and translated into a myriad of different duties, including helping plan the company’s events and conferences. Bloom takes care of the housing needs for the company and works with the director of events to organize all the little details from airline reservations and transportation schedules to creating resumes and finalizing billing. When she isn’t at the office, Bloom loves to be outside, whether it’s hanging out at local spots, riding her bike around Tulsa or working in her garden.
Career Highlight: When Bloom organized an event in Hawaii a couple years ago, she and the hotel disagreed on the attrition clause that was built into the contract. “According to my calculations, we were over that number of room nights, but according to the hotel we were not,” Bloom explains. “It was a very stressful situation that made me realize the power of organization and backup emails.” After much communication, she was able to successfully prove her case to the hotel and save her company several thousands of dollars.
Inspiration: Bloom takes satisfaction in knowing something she worked really hard on was enjoyable and beneficial for the attendees. “Seeing an event come together from the ground up and be a success is something that keeps me going in this fast-paced and sometimes stressful career.”
Industry Mentors: Patty Cooper, the director of events at Harrison International Seminars, has been a huge influence on Bloom, who credits Cooper for giving her opportunities to gain experience. “She allows me to take over projects and work with the hotels to gain hands-on knowledge that has helped me tremendously in this journey,” says Bloom. Cooper has also encouraged Bloom to pursue her CMP, which she expects to test for this fall.
Professional Affiliations: RCMA
Twitter: @talktokari
Last Place You Vacationed: Hawaii
Professional Pet Peeve: “The multitude of little changes that take place right before an event.”
First Job: Carhop at a drive-in in Kansas
Destinations of Your Upcoming Events: Palm Springs, Calif., and Hawaii
The Bloom Profile: iPhone | Checked bag | Window seat | Coffee | Skinny jeans | Twitter
—Mari Shirley
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