Young Professional Q&A: Kristen King

After moving to Edmond in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree, Kristen King joined the Edmond Chamber of Commerce as an intern. She now remains part of the team as an events and programs manager.

Q: Do you live in Edmond, work in Edmond, or both?

A: My husband and I just bought our first home at the beginning of this year near Edmond in the Deer Creek area. A crazy time to buy a home, but we were happy to plant some roots near Edmond. I’ve worked in Edmond for the last five years.

Q: Where did you grow up and go to school?

A: I’m originally from Piedmont, Oklahoma, which is where I graduated from high school, and moved to Edmond when I went to college at Oklahoma Christian University. I started at Oklahoma Christian in August 2017 and finished my degree in marketing management in November 2020.

Q: What did you do before your time at the Edmond Chamber?

A: In high school, I worked at Piedmont’s local dry cleaner and florist. I worked there through high school and during the summers in college. When I moved to Edmond to go to Oklahoma Christian, I got a job at a retail store and worked there for about two years before I saw that an internship was available at the Edmond Chamber of Commerce.

Q: How did you get involved with the Edmond Chamber?

A: When I was in my second year at Oklahoma Christian, I received an email from a professor and adviser of mine with a job description for an Edmond Chamber events and marketing intern. I saw the job description, and I knew this was right up my alley. I sent Sherry Jordan, our president and CEO, my resume and cover letter and started just a few weeks later. I worked as the events and marketing intern through 2019 and 2020. It was an odd year for events in general, but I was graduating from Oklahoma Christian in November 2020, and the stars aligned for me to step into the full-time events and programs role after graduation. (I guess they liked me enough to keep me around.) I started full-time at the Edmond Chamber at the beginning of December 2020 and have loved my time here since.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: There are multiple things that I love about my job, like getting to engage and create connections with businesses in the community; being creative and organized; and working with an amazing group of women at the chamber. I also love that each day brings a new and exciting set of tasks, and I never live the same day twice. Some days, I’m having lunch with a group of  Edmond Young Professionals at a local restaurant. Some days, I’m making balloon arches and charcuterie boards, and other days I’m setting up events for a lunch or breakfast. Each day brings something different.

Q: What’s something you’re passionate about in your personal life?

A:  I’m passionate about my family. My husband works at a private school in Oklahoma City as a PE teacher and girls’ basketball coach, so this time of year, basketball season is in full swing. We have a Goldendoodle pup named Nike, who is a large part of our family. We like to be active and try new things!

Q: What’s an accomplishment you’re the proudest of?

A:  I recently received a NextGen Under 30 award in the nonprofit category. It was an honor to be recognized and included in that list. Another accomplishment I’m proud of is that I‘ve started a four-year program called the Institute for Organization Management (IOM), a professional development program for professionals in the chamber of commerce industry. Annually, I’ll spend a week in Athens, Georgia, for the next four years to become IOM-certified. I went for my first week in June 2022 and developed great relationships with chamber of commerce pros from around the U.S.

Q: What do you like about Edmond?

A: There are many great things about Edmond, but I think one that I get to see daily is that our community is full of wonderful businesses and business owners that make Edmond the great city that it is.

Q: What is your number one tip for other young professionals, either for work or life in general?

A: If I had to pick one tip, I would say just be kind to other people. It seems simple, but being a nice, kind person is never the wrong thing to do. I’ve made great connections simply from just asking questions about the other person and getting to know them.