Students from Dan Roraff¹s sixth-grade class at Roberts Elementary School said they enjoyed the Career Focus luncheon April 30. Source photo by Matt December

Nearly 3,000 UCS students from every elementary school in the district attended the event, which allowed them to sit with community leaders and learn about their careers. Students also prepared portfolios and resumes of the careers they hoped to pursue, and were able to discuss the education, experience and other criteria necessary for achieving those careers.

The event’s keynote speaker was Karen MacDonald, communications director for Taubman Centers, the corporation that runs 24 malls across the United States, four of which are located in Michigan. Last winter, Taubman Centers opened its newest location, The Mall at Partridge Creek.

MacDonald was not just there to talk about her career; she also represented the success possible through Utica Community Schools. MacDonald is a graduate of Stevenson High School, and a former student of Messmore Elementary and Davis Junior High schools.

MacDonald began her career through a work program sponsored by UCS, becoming employed at the Gap at Lakeside Mall at the age of 15.

“I’ve always loved to shop. I got this interest from my mom, so I guess it was only natural that my career would be in that field,” she said.

MacDonald initially enrolled at Michigan State University to become an interpreter, although she said she eventually discovered she did not have the discipline to learn the required six languages. She decided to pursue a major in advertising while working at the Gap at Lakeside and in Lansing throughout her time in college.

MacDonald’s first brush with her future career came when she was inspired to run a charity fashion show for the Gap that would involve athletes and celebrities from the area. The company flew her out to its national headquarters in California for training, and she learned about conducting a major event and involving the media - major responsibilities she currently has in her current role.

Shortly afterward, MacDonald attended an event at Lakeside Mall where she met many of the employees involved in daily mall operations, including the woman who was the marketing director at the time. Although she had little experience, MacDonald made an impression on the woman and was hired as her assistant marketing coordinator shortly afterward, a role she held for two years before being named marketing director. She held that position for more than nine years before being hired on with Taubman.

MacDonald told the students her responsibilities require her to speak with reporters and coordinate events at each of Taubman’s 24 malls that will garner large media attention. Last year she was responsible for the publicity surrounding the opening of The Mall at Partridge Creek.

“We were responsible for getting Gov. (Jennifer) Granholm to come to the ribbon cutting to celebrate the hundreds of jobs being created at the mall. We also were responsible for her bringing her dog, Mackinac, to the event to celebrate the fact that we are a pet-friendly mall,” she said. “We got about 100 different stories throughout that time, following everything from groundbreaking to the opening.”

MacDonald said she’s also involved with working with Taubman’s programs overseas and is on-call 24 hours a day should an emergency occur at one of the malls. She has had to prepare mall officials to speak with police and fire departments in the event of plane crashes, fires, hurricanes and floods.

MacDonald said she has stayed in the career because of her love for shopping and the retail industry. She urged the students in attendance to do the same.

“Make sure you love your career,” she said. “You have to work for far too many years to not enjoy what you do.”

MacDonald also urged the children never to give up as they pursue their dreams.

“You may not get everything you try for in life,” she said. “But you’ll never know how far you can go unless you try.”

Christine Johns, superintendent of UCS, said the Career Focus luncheon is a turning point in the lives of the district’s students each year.

“We are aware that the young kids gathered together today are an example of all that is right in the community,” said Johns. “This community rallies around its students. The people here today are mentors and positive role models, which is what these students need.”

MacDonald said she was impressed by the attendance and amazed with how prepared the students were.

“I’m just so impressed by this whole event,” she said. “I wish they had something like this when I was in school.”