MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | APRIL 2009
MEET CARA CHRISTIANSON RILEY
PROFESSIONAL NOTES
Employed by: Greater Kansas City Federal Executive Board
Duties: The Greater Kansas City Federal Executive Board (FEB) is a catalyst for communication, coordination and collaboration among the 134 Federal agencies across the Kansas City metropolitan area. The Federal government is Kansas City’s largest employer. More than 33,000 Federal employees make a significant contribution to the area economy as well as strong commitment to community services. Essentially, at the FEB we are a strategic partner, bringing agencies together and facilitating collaboration to achieve common goals out here in the field.
Cara says, “I work to communicate programs, management strategies and administrative challenges from Washington, D.C., as well as among the local field offices. We work to save the Federal government money by providing and coordinating affordable training to our local agencies.”
Education:
- Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication, Emporia State University, 2003 – emphasis in PR and a minor in Sociology for good measure
- Master of Arts in Speech Communication, Central Missouri State University, 2006
Affiliations, Personal & Professional:
- Society of Government Meeting Professionals
- Federal Information Council
- American Cancer Society – Olathe Relay For Life – Team Recruitment/Retention Chair
- Association for Women in Communications – Vice President-Programs & President-Elect
- Kansas City Express (Women’s Running/Walking Club)
- TriKC – (area Triathlon club)
The reason I chose a communications discipline for my career….
“If you ask my dad it is because they were the only classes where I didn’t get in trouble for talking and, according to him, I have the ‘gift for gab.’"
"But, I really like to understand and see how people interact with one another.”
If I wasn’t a communicator, I’d be…
“If money was no object, I would go work at a daycare in a heart beat.”
My best/worst career experience…
“I am so young in my career that while I have my up and down days, I can’t say I’ve had just an awful experience."
"The best part of my job is that people really appreciate me when I am able to assist them in tracking down resources or helping solve a problem.”
PERSONAL DETAILS
Home town: Leavenworth, KS. Currently residing in Olathe.
Birthday: May 13, 1982
Family: “I am an only child. Both my parents still reside in my childhood home in Leavenworth. All of my extended family, Grandma, aunts, uncles and cousins, live in the Twin Cities area."
"I married my college sweetheart in April 2006. No human children yet, but we have two perfect feline children: PK and Butter. For those of you who are Dog people, don’t worry: Butter thinks he is a dog!”
Hobbies:
- “I have recently entered the very fun, but very expensive, world of scrapbooking! I am horrible at it, but it sure is fun to pretend to be good!
- “Last October I also began triathlon training. I guess it could be considered a hobby, most days I consider it torture! I have had a few minor setbacks because my body seems to be allergic to running, however, the process has been a much needed challenge for me.”
Favorite book: Angela’s Ashes
Favorite food: Cheez–Its and marshmallows (not together!)
Favorite movie: “When Harry Met Sally”
Favorite TV show: “I watch way too much TV, but my favorite is LOST.”
Favorite music: “I listen to a lot of Alternative Rock.”
Words of wisdom...on work, play, life, the world…
“Pick up feet, then walk.”
“I am a pretty clumsy person, and when I play basketball I am known to stumble for no reason. One time at a practice in school, the team was running laps because we were in trouble. I, of course, was bringing up the rear because running is the dumbest sport. Well, somehow the floor moved on me and I fell over. I, along with the other 11 high school girls, start laughing uncontrollable, angering my coach. In frustration he yells, ‘Christianson, pick up feet, then run!’
“It became the joke of the year and I would always go around saying it. Once I entered college, I realized that it can be my motto for life.”
Posted 4/1/09
