Cultivate Blog

Meet the women who inspire us

Posted by Jenny McGee on 5/29/19 5:43 PM

Our industry is filled with incredible, hardworking women that we’re lucky to be able to work with. From our dynamic brand partners, clients that make each event fulfilling than the last, to the leaders we have right here in the Cultivate office, we’re surrounded by inspiring women. Meet a few of them here!

NATALIE ROMINE
Managing Director, Cultivate

Q: What led you to your field of work or to Cultivate?
A: Before working at Cultivate, I managed the commercialization of golf clubs at Callaway Golf. I loved the concept of shepherding a product from its idea phase all the way through to the day it hits the shelf. I always enjoyed project management. For me, project management is like putting together puzzles and figuring out strategies to have them come together faster or easier. Overtime I’ve became the chief problem solver. My job is to get the pieces to fit.

Q: What do you enjoy most about your position at Cultivate?
A: I love doing different things every day. Some days I work on employee benefits programs and other days I work with our tax and banking partners. I also enjoy working events and seeing how far we have come as a company.

Q: What is your no-fail go to when you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed?
A: I go outside. It is amazing how much better I feel after taking the dog on a quick walk around the block.

Q: What does success mean to you?
A: Being proud of what I do every day.

Q: What is your personal or professional motto?
A: Give it your all!

Q: What does a typical workday look like for you?
A: It really is different every day. I try to connect with our employees and understand what can be done to make our business better.

LISA RAMSAY
AVP, Event & Meeting Management, Protective Life Insurance Company

Q: What led you to your field of work or to Protective Life? 
A: Prior to working for Protective Life, I was in the hotel industry – outside sales. I called on Protective Life and loved the company, so when they asked me to come work for them planning meetings and events, it was an easy decision. I couldn’t say yes fast enough! I’ve been with the company twenty-five years and I am blessed to be on their team.

Q: What do you enjoy most about your position at Protective Life?  
A: No two days are the same and being able to travel the world and see amazing places and meet incredible people. I love this industry! Where else can you get paid for doing something most people only dream about?

Q: What is your no-fail go to when you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed? 
A: Stop, breath, and tell myself that I will get through the stress and I will come out on the other side a wiser and better person. A glass of wine always helps too!

Q: What does success mean to you? 
A: A happy and fulfilled life, a loving family, and lifelong friends that’s my perfect world!

Q: What is your personal or professional motto?
A: You don’t build yourself up by tearing someone else down.

“You don’t build yourself up by tearing someone else down.” 
– Lisa Ramsay

Q: What does a typical workday look like for you?
A: Up at 4:30 a.m., at work by 6:30 a.m. followed by emails (so many emails), meetings, phone calls, go, go, go! Home by 6:30 p.m. love on my hubby and fur babies and night, night at 9 p.m. 

Q: What’s your favorite thing to come home to after a long day of work?
A: My home in the country, to my hubby and our two fur babies, (Eli and Lucy). 

RHONDA BREWER
Vice President, North America Sales, BCD Meetings & Events

Q: What led you to your field of work or to BCD Meetings & Events?
A: I started in the industry right out of college with a degree in Geography and Marketing with a focus in meetings and events. I worked for another third party for almost 30 years, led a DMC for about 18 months, was very active in SITE and was President in 2015. All those experiences led me to BCD M&E, a great growing global Meetings & Events company.

Q: What do you enjoy most about your position at BCD Meetings & Events?
A: I enjoy the people, the leadership, and their global direction. I have a great team that is very engaged, and there is a tremendous amount of collaboration.

Q: What is your no-fail go to when you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed?
A: Exercise. As most people know, I never travel without my running shoes. I love to workout in some way every day as I feel that keeps us healthy and balanced.

Q: What does success mean to you? 
A: Success to me is being able to help others achieve their personal and professional goals. I don’t believe success is something you can achieve on your own. The more you can give and support others, the more they can succeed which in turn, you succeed.

“The more you can give and support others, the more they can succeed which in turn, you succeed.” 
– Rhonda Brewer

Q: What is your personal or professional motto?
A: Finish strong. I have said this to my son for years as you get close to finishing a school year, a race or whatever it might be, give it all you’ve got and finish strong. It is not about winning or losing, it’s about what you put into it. The more you give, the more you receive.

Q: What does a typical workday look like for you? 
A: When I am in my home office, I start most mornings with a read from my “Girlfriends in God” and then a workout, dig into emails, and then begin my many conference calls throughout the day. Working remote, most of my communication is via Skype. If I am traveling, it varies based on the event or conference but the day, regardless of where I am, generally starts with my devotion and a morning workout. It is like my coffee for the day, I get completely energized!

Q: What’s your favorite thing to come home to after a long day of work?
A: After a long week of traveling, at this stage of my life, coming home to my sweet little dog Cocoa and my husband. 

TAMMY SPENCER
Marketing Communications Manager, Kirby Risk Electrical Supply

Q: What led you to your field of work or to Kirby Risk Electrical Supply?
A: A previous supervisor who was also my mentor brought me to Kirby Risk. I had worked for him as a marketing coordinator at an engineering firm, and when the firm closed that local office, he went to work for Kirby Risk. We stayed in touch, and a couple of years later he brought me to Kirby Risk. Although I had studied advertising, I began in an administrative role, and when an opportunity became available in marketing, I applied for that position and got the job, and the rest is history.

Q: What do you enjoy most about your position at Kirby Risk Electrical Supply?
A: I love being able to express my creativity and share my ideas. I work with a great group of people who help me further develop my ideas and creativity into meaningful campaigns and initiatives.

Q: What is your no-fail go to when you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed?
A: Music is everything! It helps me to get out of my head when I start to feel frustrated or overwhelmed, and it helps with the creative process too!

Q: What does success mean to you? 
A: Success to me means finding the right balance between career and family. I love my job, and I love to help people, but sometimes I struggle to let go and just take a break. I’m learning that everyone needs a break including me and that it can help me be more focused and engaged when I spend time with the people I love.

“Success to me means finding the right balance between career and family.” 
– Tammy Spencer

Q: What is your personal or professional motto? 
A: Let it go! I try to remember to let go of the things I cannot control because these are the things that can zap my energy if I let them.

Q: What does a typical workday look like for you? 
A: A typical work day for me is a lot of multi-tasking, and being pulled in different directions. At any given time I’m working on a variety of projects with several different people. Every day brings new challenges.

Q: What’s your favorite thing to come home to after a long day of work? 
A: My husband, daughter, and my crazy cat Frankie.

Topics: Experts

Leave Comment