Meet Cally King, a lover of the outdoors, live music, sushi, her family and red wine - with an emphasis on the wine part! When she’s not brainstorming her next marketing campaign or planning her next big event, she can be found playing in nature while hiking with her husky Rio, backpacking, rock-climbing or cycling. Cally’s an ambitious go-getter who loves to take part in things that she’s truly passionate about.

Generation:

Born in 1994, I fall into the oh-so-perplexing millennial generation. And although I may be a Generation Y, I’m truly an old soul. I’m known for responding to my texts once a week (sorry, friends!). I strongly believe in quality over quantity, and I love meeting new people face to face. Yes – in person! Can you believe I’ve never sent a Snapchat in my life?

Career and community involvement:

I’m the director of marketing at Hagadone Marine Group, where I oversee the marketing and advertising initiatives for the marine division of Hagadone Hospitality. This includes Hagadone Marine Group, Lake Coeur d’Alene Cruises, Coeur Custom Wood Boats, Resort Boat Rentals, Boardwalk Marina, Silver Beach Marina, Blackwell Marina, Blackwell Pro Shop and The Marina Cantina. The thing that makes Coeur d’Alene so special is, of course, the lake – and to have the honor of working on all things water-related day in and day out is hardly considered work for me. Coeur d’Alene is such a special community and it’s fulfilling for me to attend our local events, be involved with our exceptional nonprofit organizations, enjoy our lakeside playground and relish in all that beautiful North Idaho has to offer.

Parental status:

While I don’t currently have any children, I’m a lover of kiddos and look forward to having a family of my own one day. I’ve had lots of practice – I’m the proud auntie to four beautiful nieces and two handsome nephews!

1. How and when did you begin your career in communications?

While I was pursuing my bachelor’s degree in communication studies in public relations with a minor in business administration at Eastern Washington University – go Eags! – I landed an internship with the city of Spokane Valley as their public support Intern. This was the first experience I gained with media relations, event planning, the production and distribution of press releases, etc. After graduating from Eastern in 2016, I pursued a second internship at The Coeur d’Alene Resort as their sales and catering intern. Working at The Resort is where my excitement for my work really began to flourish: I had a passion for the hospitality industry, and grew into a role as their marketing and public relations manager. Every day was a new adventure: planning fun events such as The Coeur d’Alene Food and Wine Festival one day, and then going live on camera with the news stations on-board our Lake Coeur d’Alene Cruise Boats the next. The Hagadone company has truly given me the creative space to be successful and exhilarated about my work. It has truly celebrated my successes with me, all while encouraging me to push myself further and grow within the organization.

2. What are a few things you find most rewarding about working with people and building relationships in our community?

I have always loved meeting new people; exchanging stories and ideas with others is truly energizing for me. I’ve always found that I have something to learn from every person I meet – in many ways, everybody is a mentor to me. Coeur d’Alene is full of such creative, motivated and kind people, and to have the opportunity to build relationships with our community members has fulfilled my life both personally and professionally.

3. What excitement is ahead in 2021 at Hagadone Marine?

That has easily been the best part of working at Hagadone Marine Group – there’s always something exciting ahead! In the coming two years, we are ecstatic to introduce a new “Dry Stack Storage” to our property, as well as a Marina Clubhouse. This calls for even more lakeside fun! 2020 was a record-breaking year for boat sales in our industry, so you can imagine how excited our team is to see what 2021 holds. It’s been super fun helping families get out on the water with their loved ones.

4. What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?

I’m an extreme lover of mornings, and not a big fan of evenings. I feel the most alive and energized in the morning – the earlier, the better! This isn’t too big of a surprise for many people, though – I tend to naturally have a lot of energy…no coffee needed! There’s nothing quite as special as being up with the sun.

5. What was one of the most nerve-racking moments in your life that you conquered and grew from?

While I am not referencing a specific event, I can say that I used to go through life not being able to say “no” to things. At many times throughout my education, career and/or relationships, this inability brought me a lot of stress, pressure and at times even unhappiness. Knowing this wasn’t good for my mental, physical and spiritual health, I was able to conquer this weakness and not only find a balance in my life, but also to prioritize what I was passionate about. To this day, I have continued to maintain this healthy life balance, which has provided me with fueled creativity, a boosted productivity and more authentic relationships with those around me. One of my favorite quotes is by Oprah Winfrey: “Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.”