Katherine Kenney is a 2022-2023 Fellow at OneMagnify where she is an Account Executive. Learn more about Katherine below.
Five Pillars
It’s all about balance! Moving to Detroit, I had no idea all the hidden gems, wonderful friendships and lovely memories I would have found and made.
Live: Moving from out of state, I was excited to get the true city life experience. I currently live downtown, and am loving getting to know the city more. I enjoy walking to work and to local restaurants, visiting the riverwalk, and trying the different coffee spots.
Some of my favorite memories so far of my time in Detroit have been exploring and learning about the city. I have had my family visit, friends visit and make new friends throughout my two years here. Among my favorites have been special exhibits at the Detroit Institute of Art (DIA), trying out food and coffee recommendations and cooking recipes with fresh ingredients from Eastern Market.
Work: My host company is OneMagnify! It is a marketing agency with over 7 locations domestically and internationally. We serve multiple industries, but I work as an account executive on some of the Ford accounts. My accounts focus on Customer Experience, and during my time I have had many opportunities to learn and grow my skills, like helping launch an international website this past year. In September, I had the amazing experience of helping organize a client event for the return of the Auto Show to Detroit. [Pictured]
Play: There are a lot of fun, exciting, adventurous things to do in and around the city of Detroit! Shortly after I moved, I had the chance to kayak around Detroit and do a tour of old prohibition routes on the Detroit River. Since then, I have been checking out local hiking and walking trails, and enjoy other outdoor activities in Midway Monroe. I have also been checking out local spots like the Ballroom under Shorty Bell’s pizza place, which has an arcade and pinball machines. Also, since moving I have begun attending a fitness studio and it has quickly become one of my favorite places in Detroit. I go to cycle and body classes at Vibe Ride Detroit on Randolph Street, and I have met some really cool people there. Additionally, there are so many things that go on downtown! From the tree lighting, to MoPop, to the Jazz Festival, to roller skating at Midway Monroe—there is always something to explore!
Give: Before Challenge Detroit, I was able to participate in volunteer opportunities through my host company. My favorite one has been Operation Good Cheer where we helped wrap holiday presents for children in the Michigan foster care system. Since the beginning of Challenge, there have been so many introductions and opportunities to connect and contribute to and with the community. My favorite so far has been our afternoon at FocusHope helping to pack over 300 boxes of food for seniors in the Detroit area. It not only was a great way to connect and work with other Challenge Detroit Fellows, but also to learn more about the surrounding Detroit community.
Lead: Through my host company, I have had the opportunity to join two internal groups: Amplify and Greenify. Amplify is a group that aims to promote growth and opportunity for those who identify as female within OneMagnify and their career. Last summer, I was a part of the committee that helped organize our annual Wine & Wisdom where we have a panel of speakers from different industries to speak on their experiences and interact with our audience. The other group that I have joined is Greenify, and have since become a co-author of the quarterly newsletter. Greenify promotes sustainability within OneMagnify and our personal lives. This past April, myself and the Greenify leadership team organized participation in Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources Happy Little 5k, where employees of all of the OneMagnify locations completed a 5k distance and logged it virtually. It was a great experience and we loved seeing all the photos of our participants! [Pictured]
About Katherine:
Hi my name is Katherine Kenney, I am originally from Louisville, Kentucky but I now call Detroit my home! I attended Clemson University in South Carolina for my Bachelors in Communications, and the University of Michigan Ann Arbor for my Master of Management. In my free time, I enjoy playing tennis, listening to true crime podcasts, reading and figuring out where to get a honey lavender latte.
Why should someone apply to be a Fellow?
“I would encourage someone to apply to be a Challenge Detroit Fellow because of the overwhelming sense of community. You will have the opportunity to meet some of the best people and learn so much about yourself, your fellow Fellows, and the City of Detroit.”