Kate Grissom of Rolling Hills Casino, California

It’s not often you come across someone that makes such a profound difference to the community around them. I’m extremely fortunate to have been able to observe and work with one such exemplary person for over ten years. That person is Kate Grissom, Director of Marketing at Rolling Hills Casino.

It’s hard to talk about Kate’s accomplishments without launching into a long list of her accomplishments. I have watched Kate succeed time after time in gathering together a diverse group of community members and instilling in them a reason and a purpose to band together and create something good. With little exception, she changes the lives of those people that work with her, and I’ve watch many of those people carry on to great things after applying what they’ve learned from working with Kate.

Allow me to give you a few examples of how Kate uses her drive and passion to make a difference in our community:

• Kate is one of the founding members of NEXT Tehama – a group of young professionals in the North State. Kate was instrumental is pulling together this next generation of young professionals, dedicated to channeling their energies into revitalizing the local community. This group of people chose to live in the area and through Kate’s energetic leadership, is working to improve county-wide education and infuse fresh ideas into long established community events.
• Kate has been key in the revitalization of the Red Bluff Round-up -- an 87-year old rodeo that is the oldest and largest on the West Coast. Kate pulled together a diverse group of events that were happening concurrent with the rodeo and brought back “the good old days” with a unified marketing campaign that leverage all of these events. Instead of many unconnected events, it is now a week-long celebration of one of Red Bluff’s most visible signature events.
• Key member of Expect More Tehama – an expansive group of community members that came together to better the graduation rates of Tehama county high schools, and to increase the number of students that go on to college. Kate is clearly a catalyst for this important group and has lobbied hard with the casino’s Foundation to support this critical issue.
• Project Rebound is an economic development group that formed as a result of a consultant’s report recommending key efforts for business revitalization of Tehama County. This report identified Kate as a key player in three groups needed for the success of this revitalization plan.
• In an effort to offer alternatives experiences for area visitors, Kate invited local agricultural growers in the community to come together and form the Tehama Trail – an agri-tour that includes wine tasting at local vineyards, olive and olive oil tasting from local growers, produce from local fruit and vegetables stands, and antique shops in downtown Red Bluff. Directly through Kate’s efforts, the group was formed, a high quality map was created, and a strategic plan implemented to leverage the group’s visibility through coordinated and cooperative marketing efforts.
• A local bicycle club, Chico Velo, puts on the Wildflower Century – a 100 mile bike ride that attracts over 4,000 people to the North State. The sizeable proceeds go directly towards increasing bicycle commuting, community health and awareness. In late 2008, the club’s long-time general manager was incapacitated in a serious bike accident and the club floundered. Kate volunteered her expertise to bring together the fragmented cycling community in a strategy session that was crucial in helping to reorganize and reviving the club. Thanks to Kate’s direct efforts, the now reenergized club has the backing and investment of the local community for their goals.
• To help Tehama County recover from the loss of several large, long-time community events, Kate pulled together the unusual combination of a hot air balloon rally, a classic cars show and a ribs cook-off all on one day – the Ribs Rods and Rides event. Three deserving community non-profits benefited from the proceeds of the three events. Not only does Ribs Rods and Rides boost tourism in the North State, it also creates a fun, family friendly event. Simply put, this event never would have happened without Kate’s vision, energy, organizational skills, and leadership abilities.
• Lastly, Kate is on the St. Elizabeth’s Community Hospital Advisory Board. She gives of her time and skills to help the steering committee of the local community hospital deliver quality medical care to the town of Red Bluff and surround North State.

In short, I classify Kate as one of the most stellar humans and one of the most incredible women I’ve ever met. She works hard in so many ways to increase the quality of life for her community. Kate is innovative, inventive, energetic and most importantly, uses her natural leadership abilities for the good of the community as a whole. She succeeds time after time in organizing good things from diverse groups of people. Her commitment, ethics and selflessness make me proud to know and work with her.

Scott Chandler
Marketing, Rolling Hills Casino
Corning, California