Kate Lieto

Kate Lieto, MBA, has a diverse range of work experience. Kate began their career in 2006 as a Marketing Assistant at The Gallery College of Beauty, where they worked until 2010. From 2010 to 2011, they served as an Admissions Representative at the same company. In 2011, they briefly worked as a GVSU Marketing Representative at Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions.

In 2012, Kate joined Experience Grand Rapids, starting as a Marketing Assistant before progressing through various roles. Kate served as a Visitor Concierge from June to November 2012 and then became an Executive Coordinator from November 2012 to July 2014. During this time, they facilitated communication between the President, Board of Directors, Committees, and other key stakeholders. Additionally, they managed appointments, calendars, and expenses while creating and overseeing a monthly e-newsletter.

In 2014, Kate transitioned to the role of Community Development Director at Experience Grand Rapids, where they were responsible for developing and enhancing relationships between the organization, its member partners, and the community. Kate served as the main point of contact for partners and managed the partner database and website. Kate also coordinated destination experiences to support marketing efforts.

Kate was promoted to Director of Marketing in September 2016, overseeing the organization's marketing strategies and initiatives. Recently, in July 2022, they assumed the role of Associate VP of Marketing. Further details regarding their current position are not available.

Kate Lieto, MBA completed their Bachelor's of Business Administration in Marketing and Management at Grand Valley State University, from 2008 to 2012. Kate then pursued their Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a focus on Marketing at Western Michigan University from 2012 to 2014. In addition to their business education, Kate also obtained a Cosmetology License and a Cosmetology/Related Occupations Instructor certification from The Gallery College of Beauty, from 2006 to 2009. Kate has also acquired additional certifications such as the Certified Culinary Travel Professional (CCTP) from the World Food Travel Association, the Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) (IN PROGRESS) from Destinations International, and the Certified Tourism Ambassador (CTA) from the Certified Tourism Ambassador™ Program.