Katherine Fox
Ehlert, MM, CMP Emeritus, recently ended her 30-year hotel and tourism career. She
was an MPI member from 1983 to 2011 and on the boards of both the Northern
California Chapter and the NM Chapter, for which she was also President from
2007 to 2009. Today, she is a member of PCMA and enjoying retirement, giving back
to hospitality and tourism students. We caught up with Katherine to get her
perspective on a career in hospitality, earning her CMP and what it’s like to
be enjoying her CMP Emeritus status.
Events Industry Council: Looking back over the course of your career, what has been the most significant factor that positively impacted your career?
Ehlert: Looking back, I believe getting the opportunity to live in locations like Dallas, San Francisco, Boston, Los Angeles, Austin, San Jose, the California Wine Country of Sonoma and Santa Fe have all been positive experiences. All of these locations have agreat tourism draw.
Events Industry Council: What are you most proud of during your time in the industry?
Ehlert: Because of my background in theatre, I was invited to speak and participate on panels at many industry conventions including a SITE conference in Switzerland, MPI in Las Vegas and PCMA in Boston.
Events Industry Council: What is the one piece of advice you wish you had at the beginning of your career?
Ehlert: Don't be afraid to occasionally blow your own horn if the situation is appropriate. Some managers don't always give accolades.
Events Industry Council: What is next for you?
Ehlert: I am living my "next" as the coordinator and instructor of the Santa Fe Community College Hospitality & Tourism Program. My teaching style is experiential, which includestaking my students to back of the house tours of local hotels and restaurants. Additionally, I am able to utilize the strengths and talents of our local hotelgeneral managers, directors of sales, and owners of catering companies here in Santa Fe by having them share their knowledge as guest speakers.
Now in the third year of the program, I am also instituting an internship program. My goal is to get every student employed in a supervisory or management position in the Santa Fe industry. Hopefully, I will inspire other industry veterans to give back to the next generation of students.
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