Her Story
About Kate
Kate Arion is a non-profit event planning professional with more than a decade of experience designing and executing mission-driven events. Currently based in Sarasota, Florida, she serves as the Special Events Manager at the Asolo Repertory Theatre, where she oversees major fundraising and donor engagement events, including the annual gala, Opening Night dinners, and donor experiences that support the theatre’s philanthropic mission. A graduate of Dartmouth College, she began her career in environmental and conservation non-profits before expanding into higher education and policy-focused organizations. Over the course of her career, Kate has developed deep expertise in event strategy, fundraising, and community engagement. She has held roles at organizations such as the Center for Global Development, American University, and The Nature Conservancy, where she managed complex event portfolios, coordinated high-level speakers and stakeholders, and led both in-person and virtual programming. Her work consistently blends logistics, marketing, and relationship-building with a strong emphasis on connecting audiences to meaningful causes and initiatives. In addition to her professional work, Kate is actively involved in civic and community organizations, including the Junior League of Sarasota. She is known for her adaptability, attention to detail, and ability to manage high-pressure, fast-moving events while maintaining strong partnerships with donors, vendors, and leadership teams. Passionate about using events as a platform for impact, she continues to focus on advancing non-profit missions through strategic storytelling and experiential engagement.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kate
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would say my education. My parents emphasized the importance of education and getting good grades in school. They sent me to a private school in middle school, which I think really set me on a good path for not only the material I was learning, but also life skills like time management. Then going to Dartmouth set a great trajectory for my success, and I think this would have been the case no matter what field I had chosen for my career
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
My big sister in my sorority told me, "Don't take the first job offer you're given just because you think it's the only one you're going to get." I am glad I followed that. Otherwise, I would have been knocking door-to-door with Environment America instead of planning events for The Nature Conservancy.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't be scared to try new things. Frequently when you start a new job, you're usually replacing someone else. You're the "new Amy" or the "new Sarah." You shouldn't think, "Well, this is how they always done it, so I have to keep doing it that way." You should make your own path and do the job how you think best.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think, unfortunately, there is still sexism in the workplace in nearly every industry. There can be the assumption from men in leadership that, if you're a woman, you need more oversight, and there's always that sliver of doubt of whether you can do a good job or not. But that's where self-confidence comes in: even if they think you can't do it, you know you can prove them wrong.
As far as opportunities go, I think COVID expanded the entire idea of virtual events. This not only includes more types of events, but also the work of event planning in general. I don't know that a remote event planner was usually something people had before. Now, as long as you have a computer and an internet connection, you can research venues, caterers, speakers, etc. in any city and do that program management from wherever you are.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Certainly, perseverance and dedication, whether it's in your work or something that you really care about personally. And being true to yourself. There can be moments of doubt, or a lack of confidence in a particular situation, but as long as you reflect upon how you truly feel in that moment and determine what you think is right, then you already have your answer.
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