About
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It's all about having a passion for what you do
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Katherine Harrington is director of strategic partnerships with the Business Record. She is a 30-year sales veteran in news media with career moves that included US Magazine in NYC, Crain's Chicago Business, San Diego Business Journal, and her award-winning media startup, The T Sector San Diego, serving leaders in the technology sector. 911 brought her family to Des Moines and at the Business Record, she created and developed the popular innovationIOWA Magazine that has grown to include a news site at www.innovationIA.com and weekly e-newsletter and is currently the highest revenue generating statewide magazine for Business Publications.
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At Business Publications Corporation, she enjoys speaking at numerous Business Record events including Women of Influence, Power Breakfast, 90 Ideas in 90 Minutes, Commercial Real Estate Forum and Book of Lists Unveiling. Katherine prides herself for creating memorable ad campaigns for her clients, has been the top sales executive at the company three times over the last four years.
Katherine is a former ballerina where her career led her to the San Francisco Ballet School, Tulsa Ballet, Alvin Ailey, Ballet Des Moines among others. She is former board president of Ballet Des Moines, board chair of South Central Region Iowa Governor's STEM Council, is the mother of three incredible kids and the partner of Craig Walter, the people from whom she derives most of her positive inspiration. Her favorite things are downhill skiing in Summit County, Hobie Cat sailing, kayaking Lake Superior, bike riding Greater Des Moines trails and working out at Golds Gym.
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Each year, Katherine's family hosts the BackYardBash that is a fun event that brings together hundreds of friends, neighbors and community to kick off the summer and enjoy their favorite band "Stranger Than Fiction".
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Education & Training:
San Diego State University - Executive Leadership Program
University of Illinois - BS Advertising
Parkland College, Champaign, IL - Associates Degree
Alvin Ailey American Dance Center - NYC - Scholarship Honoree
Weist Barron School of Acting - NYC
Broken Arrow High School - Tulsa, OK
Tulsa Ballet Theater - Corps de Ballet Performer
San Francisco Ballet School - CA - Summer Intensive
Cornish Institute of Allied Arts - Seattle, WA - Dance Major
Interlochen Arts Academy - MI - Dance Major
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What a Great Life
I grew up in Mattoon, Il where my grandfather William Hamel, started the daily paper - The Mattoon Journal Gazette - and my dad William B. Hamel II was publisher for 45 years. My mother, Mary E. Hamel wrote a weekly column "Something Different For Women" where she reviewed products and made humorous observations. She was Mrs. Illinois in 1965 and first runner up for Mrs. America.
I also spent many weekends with my grandmother May June Harris and grandfather E.B. Harris, in Chicago where he was President of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.
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With my parents encouragement, I left home at 14 to attend Interlochen Arts Academy to pursue my ballet career. At 16 I received my first ballet contract in Seattle. Toe shoes then led me to San Francisco, Tulsa and New York City. It was when I was working at US Magazine in New York that I decided I really wanted to focus entirely on advertising. Plus, the roaches in our small apartment in Chelsea refused to pay rent.
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Professional:
*Des Moines Business Record - Director of Strategic Partnerships
*Des Moines Business Record - Sr Account Executive / Sales Manager innovationIOWA
*dsm Magazine - Sr Account Executive
*The T Sector San Diego - Owner & Publisher
*San Diego Business Journal - Sales Manager
*San Diego Business Journal - Sr Account Executive
*107.1 The Planet Radio - Sales Manager
*Crain's Chicago Business - Account Executive
*Zenith Data Systems - Commercial Account Manager
*Zenith Data Systems - Special Events Coordinator
*Daily Illini - Sales Executive
*US Magazine - Advertising Department Secretary
Community, Volunteer & Sports:
*West Des Moines Chamber - 42 Sales Ideas in 42 Minutes Panel Speaker
*Terry Branstad, Ambassador to China - Immigrant Entrepreneurs Summit & Awards Masters of Ceremony
*Des Moines Regional Greenways Master Plan Advisory Board Member
*FIN Capital Member
*Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Board - South Central Region Board Chair
*Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Board Member - South Central Region
*Blood Sweat & Beers Race Benefiting Leukemia & Lymphoma Founding Board Member
*5150 Championship Series Triathlete Qualifier
*Des Moines Half Marathon Competitor - Placed Top 20% in Age Group
*Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Team in Training - Hy-Vee Tri - Finished 9th in Age Group
*Mrs. Iowa America 2011- Second Runner Up
*Ballet Des Moines - Board President four years, board member eight years
*Ballet Des Moines - Nutcracker performer eight years
*Ballet Des Moines - Educational Shows MC six years
*School of Classical Ballet - Dance Instructor eight years
*Des Moines Dance Off Competition - Developer
*San Diego Chapter Society of Professional Journalists Numerous Editorial Awards -The T Sector Magazine
*San Diego Press Club Numerous Awards - The T Sector Magazine
*San Diego YMCA TWIN Award Winner, Tribute to Women & Industry
*San Diego ATHENA Pinnacle Award Nominee
*San Diego Rotary Member Club 33
*American Advertising Federation - Vice President, University of Illinois
*Congressional Scholarship Honoree - University of Illinois
*Silver Cord Honoree - University of Illinois