Member Spotlight – January 2021
Jennyfer A. Holmes
Senior Scholarship and Development Officer
Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
Education/Alma Mater: Spelman College
Morning News Sources: News Channel 8 (I used to babysit for one of the anchors), New York Times, Hartford Courant, Hartford Business Journal, Milford Patch, CNN, daily alerts from higher ed journals and yes, even Facebook and Twitter (I’m a late Gen Xer).
Hometown/Current town: My house is in New Britain and my home is in Milford with my parents.
How long have you worked in your current position? Eight exciting years.
Did you have a job that might surprise people? I’m born and raised in Connecticut so of course I had a stint in insurance! No surprises there.
What do you value most about CWC? It really is a relaxing place to socially and professionally connect with so many unique women.
Best piece of advice you’ve ever gotten? “Don’t rush to be an adult.” “Wear that curly hair!”
Piece of advice for people entering your field / looking to excel in your field? Read and watch! You have to read and really absorb industry journals, articles and papers but you also have to observe those doing the work when you are starting in this field. Taking the time to build genuine relationships is so important.
Proud moment or accomplishment you’d like to share? I’m proud every day that so many deserving local students are able to afford college because of their scholarship at the Hartford Foundation. The award from the Hartford Business Journal was a pretty exciting honor too: https://www.hartfordbusiness.com/article/jennyfer-a-holmes
First Job in high school: My mother encouraged me to be a day camp counselor one summer in New Haven. The kids were so smart and so fun. I really learned that children are our future.
Dream Job (besides current): I’d love to be a florist and wedding planner.
Bucket List Item: My newest item is finally learning how to play the violin my uncle gave me as a child.
Hobbies: Genealogy research, photography, scrapbooking, reading, volunteering
Favorite Sports Team: I don’t really follow sports but I guess I like the Stealers because my Dad does!
TV Character most like you: Claire Huxtable
Vacation Spot: Martha’s Vineyard to relax and Miami to have fun. I highly recommend the coasts of South Africa! I’m a beach girl, not really a lake girl!
Favorite Movie: I have sooo many! The Color Purple, Love and Basketball, The Notebook, Selma, The Godfather, Little Miss Sunshine, A Christmas Story (all day long with my sister on 12/24 and 12/25 – so excited to add my new niece to this tradition!) and Black Panther.
Kelly W. Kennedy
Career Education Faculty/Associate Director of Student Development and Outreach
University of Connecticut School of Business
Education/Alma Mater: BA – Merrimack College, MSOB – University of Hartford
Morning News Sources: Today Show, The Morning Brew, NPR Morning Addition, Wall Street Journal Careers
Hometown/Current town: West Hartford
How long have you worked in your current position? 12 years
Did you have a job that might surprise people? Merchant Marine title: Lt. Kelly Walters; The Ship’s Wiper” (lowest person aboard the ship). Served in uniform as a non-military college administrator at Massachusetts Maritime Academy.
What do you value most about CWC? Making long lasting connections and engaging in conversations on relevant topics.
Best piece of advice you’ve ever gotten? Your network is your net worth. I teach my students that relationships have been and will continue to be the new currency.
Piece of advice for people entering your field / looking to excel in your field? Be brave enough to explore many areas of higher education – each piece of the student experience is incredibly important to know if you want to move ahead and enjoy your work as I do.
Proud moment or accomplishment you’d like to share? Receiving the “Paul Harris Award” for West Hartford Rotary for demonstrating service above self. 2006 Hartford Business Journal 40/40; Being featured in a book called “simple purpose; women changing the world” because of the over 7500 business school students I have assisted in finding their first internship or job and having the honor of reading each of graduates names at graduation. Tripling the female cadet enrollment at Massachusetts Maritime Academy.
First Job in high school: The Hallmark Store – organizing greeting cards and photo albums.
Dream Job (besides current): Television Anchor; Martha Stewart Craft Department; Broadway dancer
Bucket List Item: Travel to Japan, Europe, Prince Edward Island; living in NYC; own a Malerie/Mercantile where people can gather and create beautiful things; baking class in France.
Hobbies: Antiquing; baking: quilting, tap dancing; podcasting; giving & wrapping gifts; the advisory council at the CT Forum.
Favorite Sports Team: Celtics, specifically the 1981-1986 teams (always a Larry Bird fan & a Boston girl at heart).
TV Character most like you: Mary Richards from The Mary Tyler Moore Show, 1970.
Vacation Spot: Traveling anywhere new with my husband & always a weekend in Sandwich, Massachusetts.
Favorite Movie: Funny Girl, 1968
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Read the Member Spotlight from October 2020
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