Most people familiar with the Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC) know the name Kathy Field.  As she nears the milestone of 15 years of service to the organization, we decided to get to know her a little better.

Kathy was somewhat familiar with CCEDC because the organization provided a list of local businesses that helped raise funds for a capital campaign she worked on as a volunteer for St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Downingtown.

In August 2001, she saw CCEDC’s ad in the Daily Local for an executive assistant, she applied, and started on September 17.

Prior to joining CCEDC, Kathy held assistant positions in law and finance at the University of Pennsylvania.  She took a hiatus to raise and manage her “Fortune 500 family” which consists of husband, Mike and children Maureen, Michael, Matthew, and Marissa.

Kathy later returned to the workforce and held the position of Marketing Director at a medium-sized architectural firm in Exton.

During her tenure at CCEDC, Kathy’s role has expanded from executive assistant to special projects director based on her strong leadership skills, ability to manage major events, and enthusiasm in taking on new challenges.

In addition to providing support for CCEDC’s president and CEO, Gary Smith, Kathy also manages three major annual fundraising events – the Stakeholders’ Breakfast, Business Achievement Award Dinner, and the Annual Golf Outing.

Additionally, she serves as the liaison to the CCEDC, Seedcopa, Chester County IDA, Central and Western Chester County IDA, and CII Council Boards.

According to CCEDC’s COO Mike Grigalonis, “Kathy does an outstanding job in her role at CCEDC.  She is the driving force behind signature events like the Business Achievement Awards Dinner and the Stakeholders Breakfast and does a remarkable job fundraising to make those events possible.  She functions as a primary liaison with our Boards and Committees and is essential to our efforts to keep them informed and engaged.  But, beyond all that, what amazes me most about Kathy is her ability to manage Gary and his ever evolving schedule!”

Weekend Edition: What is your favorite part of working at CCEDC?

Kathy Field:  “I enjoy the variety of people with whom I interact on a daily basis.  We have a great team at CCEDC – I enjoy the camaraderie and the fact that it is never boring because every day is different.”

WE: What is your greatest challenge at work?

KF:  “Within such an active and thriving organization, it is essential to keep the lines of communication open.  We’ve grown from an office of fewer than 10 people to nearly 40, so we all need to work together so we can each do our best for CCEDC.”

WE: What has been your greatest achievement at CCEDC?

KF:  “Of course, I’m proud that of the fact that my responsibilities have continually increased over the years.  This not only has kept my job interesting, but also demonstrates the faith the organization has in my skills.  To get specific though, I’m very proud of the $1.89 million I’ve raised through our special events over the past ten years.”

WE: Do you have a personal philosophy you apply to your work?

KF:  “Being meticulous when it comes to work and also a team player, so my approach is to not just ‘get it done’ but to ‘get it done with integrity.’”

WE: Where do you see yourself in the next 5 to 10 years?

KF:  “In five years, I’ll still be having fun at CCEDC, but I am looking to retire in about six years so after that you can find me at my favorite place, the beach reading a great book.”

What’s next for Kathy Field?

The year 2016 has been full of important dates for Kathy.  In addition to celebrating another decade birthday on June 8, she will mark her 15^th anniversary at CCEDC on September 17.  She is currently the third-longest tenured employee at the organization.

Kathy wants you to know that she is hard at work gearing up for CCEDC’s Annual Golf Classic which will take place on Monday, September 19 at Waynesborough Country Club.  If you are interested in sponsoring this great event, email Kathy at kfield@ccedcpa.com.