Kate Mokros serves as the director of membership and communications at Shady Hollow Country Club in Jackson Township.
She began her career planning high-end weddings in the area and around the United States. She and her husband held their wedding reception at Shady Hollow, and she began working for the club soon after.
Shady Hollow was founded in 1925 and celebrated its 100th anniversary last year.
Born and raised in Canton, Mokros, 27, now lives in Massillon with her husband Mark — who worked at Shady Hollow in high school and college — and a "sweet pup named Bogey."
"I graduated in 2017 from St. Thomas Aquinas High School ... and went on to earn my bachelor's degree in strategic communications from The Ohio State University, graduating magna cum laude in 2020," said Mokros. "I began working in events right after school in 2020, planning high-end weddings for clients in Ohio and destination locations such as Los Angeles, New York, Kiawah Island, and more."
She said her job is perfect for her because of the skills it requires to excel — organization, communication, creativity, and connecting with people.
As I was nearing the end of my time at Ohio State in 2019-2020, I was very unsure of what job I wanted, as many college seniors are. All I knew was that I wanted a career that didn't keep me in one place, whether that meant in a single city or state, or simply sitting at a desk for hours on end, day after day.
I have always been a very busy and involved individual, whether that was sports throughout high school, joining clubs and working multiple jobs in college, or chairing committees in the community. As an adult, I was on the hunt for a job that combined my passions for connecting with others, creativity and design, and organizational skills. Planning weddings helped me do exactly that. I had the honor of playing such a unique role in planning and designing weddings, but also being a close friend and confidant to so many of my couples over the years.
As much as I loved my planning career, the wedding industry is a wonderfully exhausting place, and my transition to Shady Hollow was a welcome one. Getting to show up to a place that I already love so much and have such fond memories of makes me feel so lucky every day, even if it is my job now. In my position as director of membership and communications, I have all the same opportunities to connect with people, be creative through our marketing and social media content, organize details of member applications and accounts, and many other day-to-day tasks that keep me on my toes.
Hands down, my favorite feature of Shady Hollow is our members. We have some amazing amenities, an outstanding golf course, a resort-style pool, wonderful food and beverage service, and more — but our members make Shady Hollow what it is. We have a young membership with an average age of 50 with many families, but regardless of age, everyone shares the same values of community and relationships, which makes for a very welcoming club.
Beyond our members, one of my favorite features of Shady is its willingness to evolve. We are always looking for ways to enhance the member experience, invest in facilities, and adapt to our members and their changing needs. Just as importantly, we do so from a position of financial strength and stability. The club prioritizes thoughtful growth and long-term planning, which helps ensure that generations to come will be able to enjoy the same sense of community and exceptional experiences that our members enjoy today.
I'd say I am most proud of my ability to make others feel comfortable and seen. Relationships are incredibly important to me, and I genuinely enjoy investing in the people around me. Whether it's bringing people together, remembering the small details, sending a thoughtful note, or simply making time to listen, I want people to feel valued and cared for.
I believe meaningful connections are at the heart of a strong community, and if there's one thing I'd like to be known for, it's helping people feel like they belong.
I do love being spontaneous, but my busy everyday life doesn't really allow for it all that much, ha ha!
That being said, while traveling isn't out of the ordinary for us, my husband and I do have two trips this year that were sort of "spontaneously" planned. We are going to see our favorite artist, Jon Bellion, perform at Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre in Denver, Colorado, in the spring and see the same artist again at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles later this fall. These trips are special because we saw him perform for the first time last year at a stadium in New York City for our one-year wedding anniversary.
While I love traveling and exploring in any capacity, I have to say the beach is my one true home. My favorite time and place on Earth is watching the sunrise on a beach. It's where my husband proposed, it's where I've started and finished some of my favorite books, and there is just something so serene about standing by the ocean watching a new day begin.
Editor's note: Five questions with ... is a Sunday feature that showcases a member of the Stark County community. If you'd like to recommend someone to participate, send an email to [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Meet Kate Mokros. She helps people feel welcome at Shady Hollow Country Club