Membership and Community Outreach Specialist
Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance
If Quinn Pettifer doesn’t inspire you to become more involved in your community, there’s a good chance you just haven’t been in the same room with her long enough.
Ms. Pettifer is the membership and community outreach specialist for the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance. A key part of her role is to present to groups of recently hired Creative Corridor employees about the cultural recreational, entertainment and economic opportunities of the area.
Even at the relatively young age of 33, Ms. Pettifer has performed more volunteer work and served on more committees than many people do in a lifetime. She views service as an opportunity to engage and inspire others.
“Every opportunity, whether it’s volunteering as a community advocate or through my role at the economic alliance, is the chance to offer my passion and skill sets to motivate others to feel proud of what they do, where they live and how they can get involved,” Ms. Pettifer said.
Nominators Vanessa Solesbee, Shannon Hanson and Eric Hanson remarked on Ms. Pettifer’s rare ability to help others find their niche in the community.
“She is a rare specimen: Someone with pure passion, drive and dedication,” wrote the Hansons in their nomination of Ms. Pettifer. “Once she’s on your team and behind your mission, watch out. Our community and region can’t ask for a better spokeswoman and role model.”
Ms. Pettifer makes about 75-80 presentations per year in Creative Corridor.
“There is no better feeling for me than to follow up with a business or individual that has taken my ideas and turned them into action, maybe tried out a local restaurant, visited a cultural attraction or decided to volunteer with a nonprofit,” Ms. Pettifer said.
She describes the experience of finding someone else’s newfound appreciation for their community “an amazing feeling” that makes her work worthwhile.
Some of the secrets to Ms. Pettifer’s success include an understanding of her audience and an earnest effort to build rapport and trust with audience members. Her “internal Rolodex” is always spinning in an effort to find resources that will serve the needs of those she encounters.
Ms. Pettifer was a senior sales executive at KZIA Inc. in Cedar Rapids for five years. She then went to work for the Cedar Rapids Downtown District as director of marketing and community outreach, while also freelance writing.
The community boards and committees on which Ms. Pettifer has served are almost too numerous to mention. They include ImpactCR, Nonprofit Resource Network, Friends Helping Friends, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, the Cedar Rapids Area Convention and Visitors Bureau board and the board of Horizons – A Family Service Alliance.
Nominator Vanessa Solesbee doubts that there is a single community board in Cedar Rapids that Ms. Pettifer has not served or advocated for in some way.
“She is one of the strongest women I know and the respect for her among her peer group is unparalleled,” wrote Ms. Solesbee, who has served with Ms. Pettifer on the Access Iowa and ImpactCR boards of directors, and worked alongside her at the Cedar Rapids Downtown District.
Ms. Pettifer’s first name, Quinn, is one of the things that makes her unforgettable. While it may sound like it came from a Victorian novel, Ms. Pettifer says it was borrowed by her parents from a TV show when they were simply looking for a unique name.
The name probably doesn’t hurt Ms. Pettifer as she handles her part-time role as story teller support for RecBob, an online social platform for organization and recruiting recreational sports teams. She is in charge of membership recruitment for the Cedar Rapids startup.
RecBob CEO and “Quarterback” John Schnipkoweit was a Quinn fan long before she came onboard at RecBob, through his work with her as a Cedar Rapids Downtown District volunteer, during the downtown’s recovery from the June 2008 Cedar River flood. He has been impressed with her ability to see through significant projects from inception to completion.
“Her attitude is truly inspiring and I always feel reassured when I know Quinn is on our team,” Mr. Schnipkoweit wrote in support of Ms. Pettifer’s nomination. “I truly respect her strength and passion for making this community great.”
In addition to greeting newcomers to the Creative Corridor, her work includes member recruitment and corporate sales.
Ms. Pettifer came from a small Illinois town, Orion, where her family influenced her to be welcoming and make others feel comfortable.
“Surrounding myself with people who view meeting new people and connecting resources as a positive thing is a constant driving force for me to do what I can do to help others feel engaged, inspired and appreciated – however big or small the project, task or conversation,” she said.
-Dave DeWitte
