UALR Alumna Holly Heer talks hospitality career
November 2-8, 2015
By Becca Bona
From behind her desk at the Arkansas Hospitality Association, Director of Membership and Special Events Holly Heer can still remember her time as an burgeoning college student at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
The North Little Rock native wanted to stay close to home when it came time for her studies, and UALR offered her scholarships. Starting out she thought she had a specific field of study picked out, but as it turns out, that wasn’t the case.
“I started with psychology, then I changed to business, and then I finally changed to studio art,” she says, laughing, “and that’s what I ended up with, with an emphasis in graphic design.”
During her time at the university, Heer got involved with Greek life, and pledged to the Delta Delta Delta sorority during her freshman year. She was also heavily involved elsewhere, as she was a Chancellor’s Leadership Scholar.
She enjoyed her art classes, and felt at home within the department. “Even when I was in a different major I was taking art classes just because I always loved it. I chose graphic design because I thought that would be the only way to make any money and still use art.”
She found many mentors within her field at UALR. “I loved how they didn’t do last names in the art department,” she says. Heer felt that she got the attention she needed from her professors and the tools she needed to start a career at UALR.
In fact, she began working early on, starting at a car dealership when she began college, and later as a bank teller for Spire Federal. Toward the end of her collegiate career she secured a graphic design internship with the Arkansas Times. After graduating she would keep that job for a couple of years before heading to a media company, CAP Media. Later, the company merged with MailSouth, and at that point, downsizing meant that Heer found herself at a crossroads.
“My high school art teacher – Ms. Esh – I loved her, so I thought maybe I would want to be an art teacher,” she says. But after looking into the certification deadlines she would need, she realized she just missed them.
After sending out her resume, she landed the position with the Arkansas Hospitality Association, and this past August marked her eight year with the organization. She doesn’t hesitate when asked about her favorite aspect of the job: “The people, you can’t get any better than the hospitality industry – they’re hard working down-to-earth, just good people.”
Heer works to keep membership numbers up, but she also does all of the communications and PR materials for the organization, as well as helps to organize the annual tradeshow, which occurs in September each year.
“It’s a fun event with a different theme every year,” she says, although she is also partial to the “Stars of the Industry” event. The event gives awards to workers in the hospitality industry, usually for things that the public may not know about. Heer explains: “It’s behind the scenes, no one really knows about it except for their co-workers. It’s a good way to honor hardworking nice, good people.”
Heer is currently a member of the UALR Alumni Board of Directors. She says she happened to get involved with her alma mater after attending a game with her friend and fellow board member, Kristi Smith. “I reconnected with [Christian O’Neal],” she says.
Since then Heer has worked to get new restaurants involved with the association’s premier event, Taste of Little Rock. She hopes this year’s event will be even bigger than ever.
As Heer is CAE (Certified Association Executive Program) certified, she is also currently leading a study group for women anticipating taking the test.
When not working, she enjoys spending time with her family and traveling to Lake Ouachita.
