Today we’d like to introduce you to Kat Hayes.
Hi Kat, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in South Louisiana and received my bachelor’s in Strategic Communication from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2020. During college, I was an active member of Students for the Advancement of Women, where I held the Public Relations Chairman position, and Alpha Omicron Pi Fraternity, where I served in a handful of leadership positions and supported our local philanthropy, Hearts of Hope Sexual Assault Crisis Center, by becoming a trained Sexual Assault Survivor Advocate.
I worked as a Cat Caretaker at my local no-kill animal shelter for nearly two years, which began my journey in the animal care industry. Afterwards, I moved on to become a Bear Builder at Build-A-Bear Workshop up until graduation. My senior year, I interned with Festival International de Louisiane to market their first-ever online music festival experience during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, my passion for community, service, animals, and my future career grew immensely.
Shortly after graduation, I moved to The Woodlands area with my partner. I searched for months before my move to find a job, and was offered the position of Marketing Coordinator at Pampered Pet Resorts in the Rice/West U area only a week before I planned to cross state lines. As the time to move grew nearer, I was excited for the future but anxious that I wouldn’t experience the same feeling of community that I had at home. I soon learned that I had no reason to worry.
The growth that I have experienced in just two years is unlike anything else. Ellen, Erin, and the entire Pampered Pet Resorts team took a chance on me when I was fresh out of college, welcomed me with open arms, and introduced me to the Houston community.
Because of this community, Pampered Pet Inn, our flagship location, is celebrating our 40th anniversary in 2022. Last year, The Inn was awarded Best of the Best Pet Groomer by The Houston Chronicle and was a finalist for the award again this year!
Pampered Pet Recreation Center, our second location, opened in 2021, and hosted our first annual Fall Festival. This year, The Rec Center was voted Neighborhood Favorite on Nextdoor, and we’re continuing our new Fall Fest tradition! We’ve also partnered with Sweetwater Bark Dog Training to offer positive reinforcement training classes at The Rec Center, and we’re so excited to continue fostering relationships within our community.
As I make more connections, I’ve been fortunate to take on freelance digital marketing clients so I can help other Houston-based businesses grow! I consider myself very lucky to be a part of the Houston community and work with companies so deeply rooted in it.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely been hard to start over in a new place, and I struggled with impostor syndrome for months. Up until moving to Texas, I had never lived outside of Louisiana. Leaving my friends and family behind without a solid plan was a risk, and I only had about six months of professional marketing experience under my belt.
Without my partner, I know I could not have taken the leap. They (and their family) supported me and encouraged me to be the best I could be, and I am so grateful to have that in my life.
Since my move, I have learned something new every day about my profession and myself. The Pampered Pet Resorts team has given me the resources and support I needed to grow, make mistakes, and learn from them. They have allowed me the ability to combine my passions with my profession, a luxury that not everyone can say they have.
A few months into working with Pampered Pet Resorts, my partner lost their job, and I took on an additional part-time role with San Diego-based LGBTQ+ personal development company, Coming Out Happy. While the motivation behind seeking out a second position was unfortunate, I was, again, put in a position where I could create meaningful work, and my confidence continued to grow.
I will never stop learning and growing, but I have learned so much from this journey, and I am a better person and professional because of it.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a digital marketing specialist focused on small business marketing, and I have created a career serving companies and organizations that are close to my heart, making each project a passion project. From social media management to ad design, marketing strategy to event planning, I wear a lot of hats to make sure that my employer or client’s needs are met and that their expectations are exceeded.
I have a knack for branding, creating strong, consistent messaging and visuals, no matter the project. I am proud of my ability to not just market a brand, but give them an identity!
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Most of my family is from Lake Charles, Louisiana, and my great aunt owned and operated Lady Leah Lafargue School of the Dance, which partnered with the Lake Charles Civic Ballet to put on a production of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer every year during the holiday season. While the story was not original, the entire production was choreographed by Lady Leah, and nearly everyone in my family participated in some capacity over the years. Especially my father, who played Santa for the majority of my life.
I had a few roles. I played a baby doll, a jack-in-the-box (although I refused to pop out of my box on stage), and an elf. While I will never call myself a ballerina, the time spent in those productions will always be close to my heart. I hold them especially close now that Lady Leah has passed and the majority of my family moved out of Lake Charles after Hurricane Laura.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kathayespr.wixsite.com/kathayes
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathayesdigitalmarketingspecialist
Image Credits
Kat Hayes Digital Marketing Specialist
Reagan Schwab Media
