Customers, meet The Contributor’s Director of Development, Holly Bowman!
She comes to us from Virginia, just outside of DC. She’s been a Nashville resident for three years. What brought her to Tennessee? Her education. She’s attending Vanderbilt University to obtain a Master’s of Education in Community Development.
How did she first come in contact with The Contributor? She became a customer of several vendors that came across her path in East Nashville.
What prompted her to take the leap and go from Contributor supporter to Contributor employee? She believes in The Contributor’s mission to “Create economic opportunity with dignity by investing in the lives of people experiencing homelessness and poverty.” She saw the job posting online and it’s a job she’s always wanted to do.
As an added benefit, she had experience in development/fundraising. It seemed like a great fit, so she applied. We are so glad that she did!
What are her goals? What does she hope to accomplish in her new role? (She’s only been in the position for about a month.) She wants to raise enough money so the paper can continue for as long as it’s needed. She also wants to make sure there’s enough money to keep the housing program in place and fully functional long-term.In order to achieve these goals she hopes to expand existing relationships and create new ones along the way.
What does she think of her new job so far? She says, “It’s a fun job!” She particularly enjoys the vendor breakfast; she thinks it’s cool because it gives her an opportunity to get to know the vendors one-on-one.
(I don’t know how well she got to know me during the course of this interview, but it was conducted at the conclusion of one of those breakfasts, and I feel like I got to know her pretty well!)
When asked if there was anything else she wanted our readers to know about her personally or professionally she told me she currently lives with her partner and their dog Henry (a 4-year-old Goldendoodle who is absolutely adorable. I’ve seen pictures).
In her free time, she also enjoys making pottery, which to me sounds a little messy, but very cool.