Meet the Team: An Interview with Kim

by | Apr 23, 2020 | Destination Management and Events

Kim McCarthy | Professional Storyteller of Events/General Manager

She has always been THE planner in her personal life and in a professional setting. From the beaches of Endicott College to the mountains of Les Roches, she built her foundation and passion for the hospitality industry while receiving a Dual-Degree program with a Bachelor’s degree from Endicott College in Hospitality Management and Concentration in Event Management and also a Diploma in Hotel Management from Les Roches International School of Hotel Management in Switzerland. Over the past six years Kim has been designing, planning, managing, and executing corporate events for some of the country’s most notable brands and companies. She has worn many hats in the industry and has worked her way up from Intern to Director. Her friendly and can-do attitude around the office is infectious and she leads by example.

Her true passion lies in creativity and design. Kim has an eye for different aesthetics and loves customizing perfect themes for each event. She knows that not only does the event have to look beautiful, but it has to run smoothly. At Portfire, Kim fulfills her true role as “a professional storyteller of events” at Portfire as the Director of Creative Services. She composes and creates proposals driven by stories from her clients. Each client has a different story to tell. Their stories inspire her creativity, allowing the thoughtful detail to come together to truly capture the reason behind the event.

What does your regular day look like?

One things that I love about this industry is that every day is different. This means that my day-to-day work can vary a lot, but it requires me to have good time-management skills. I need to be able to handle the arrangement and organization of events that are happening now, while also simultaneously planning upcoming events and proposals. As Creative Director I also manage our digital and print materials as well as our social media accounts. Once, we get out of the COVID-19 quarantine, you also better believe, that I will be visiting as many networking events as I possibly can! I miss my industry friends! 

What are your favorite things to do outside of work?

As a native New Englander, I love to be outside! I enjoy taking day trips to little towns all over New England, exploring new restaurants, boutique shopping, hiking through wildlife parks, paddling down rivers and on the ocean, and of course enjoying some cocktails on roof decks with my boyfriend, friends, and family.

What do you enjoy most about your day?

Our morning team meetings always put a smile on my face and really set the tone for the day! I also enjoy reading up on new trends, new local businesses and connecting with the Maine community.

What about the best part of your work?

The best part is that I am working with wonderful, talented people who are experts in their fields. Teamwork and team culture is crucial here. At Portfire we have created a work culture that is fun and educational. We promote asking a lot of questions and to always be true to yourself. 

What advice would you give someone who’d like to work at Portfire?

Be who you are and take risks. We always say “you can’t teach personality, but you can teach new skills”. If you are a team player, have a good spirit, and a can-do attitude then you will fit right in at Portfire, and the rest will come! When you are in the office listen in on phone calls, participate in group meetings, and take a hands-on approach and we promise you will love this industry as much as we do! 

Lastly, for those who want to know more about you, what are some of your favorite….

New England Foods: Lobster Rolls

Cocktails: Spicy Margarita in the Summer and Espresso Martinis in the Winter

Locations: Any place that has a view of the water, especially the Cliff House

Music: Country, Singer/Songwriter, and Indie/Alternative

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *