Women of Influence: Alabama Ronald McDonald House CEO Katherine Billmeier
Few women in the world have had as much of an impact on their city’s space as Katherine Billmeier. A member of the Birmingham, Ala. community since birth, Billmeier graduated from Mountain Brook High School and attended Mount Vernon College, now under the name George Washington University in Washington D.C., earning her bachelors degree in Arts & Humanities in 1987. She then pursued and earned a post-graduate certificate in fine and decorative art at Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London. Although her background is in art, Billmeier found her true passion in the non-profit sector; serving for nearly two decades in non-profits in Birmingham — literally shaping her community along the way. She began serving as the Executive Director of Birmingham’s Vulcan Park in 2000 during the icon’s $20 million capital campaign to restore the Vulcan statue and the park surrounding it. She also co-edited the Vulcan Park: Celebrating 100 years of Birmingham’s Colossal Icon book. She left the park in 2004, and began her work with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Alabama (RMHCA) where she served as Capital Campaign Counsel before the $7.5 million house was completed in 2007. In 2008, she became a Board member serving until January of 2012 when the non-profit named her Executive Director. “What we do is provide a home away from home for families whose children are being treated at area hospitals. It’s so much more, though. Our families find other voices and other bodies going through similar situations. They’re able to lean on each other, support each other, pray with each other and help each other,” Billmeier told the Alabama Newscenter. “We achieve our mission by providing a fabulous room for families to sleep in, and just being there with a smile and hug,” Billmeier continued. “Our families come from all over the state of Alabama, and the world, actually. Children’s of Alabama is the third-largest children’s hospital in the nation and continues to grow, and we will continue to grow to meet that need.” RMHCA’s first CEO leads around town Billmier demonstrated so much passion, and achieved so much success at the RMHCA, they named her their first ever Chief Executive Officer in February of 2016 where she still serves today. But her involvement in her community doesn’t stop there. Throughout her time at the RMHCA, Billmier served as a non-profit consultant to several other groups, specializing in development and project management. She was responsible for the board development and project management of the $16.5 million Railroad Park. Completed in 2010, the park has become an award-winning staple and hub of activity in the Birmingham community. “Railroad Park has become and indeed exceeded the reality that so many dreamed it would be,” Billmeier wrote to The Birmingham News. “City and business leaders, teachers and students, residents and designers — people with vision came together and took a risk, ignored the naysayers, and built a beautiful urban park for the long term good of the community.” In her letter to what was then The Birmingham News, Billmeier predicted new developments along First Avenue South, an area which, since the park opened, has been revitalized and is now teeming with businesses, breweries, coffee shops, and apartment buildings. Billmeier is a woman who knows how to grow and develop, not just families in need of support, but whole communities. For her service to Alabama families dealing with their children’s health issues, her astounding work to revitalize critical Birmingham parks and neighborhoods Katherine Billmeier is absolutely an Alabama woman of influence.
Venture for America draws best and brightest to Birmingham
More than 40 companies from Birmingham, San Antonio, New Orleans and Nashville were in Birmingham Friday hoping to hire one of 50 Venture for America fellows. Innovation Depot hosted the VFA regional job fair, making Birmingham the center of innovation attention for at least a couple of days. “We have screened more than 2,000 young people in the country this year and selected the 200 best and brightest and brought a good cross-section of them here today,” said Amy Nelson, managing director and incoming CEO of New York-based Venture for America. VFA fellows come from some of the most prestigious universities in the country. For startup companies or companies with a focus on innovation, it can be hard to visit all of those schools on career day, so VFA holds regional events bringing select students to one place. Fellows vie for a two-year apprenticeship with the companies. Once the two years are up, the company may offer to keep the fellow on or a fellow may look to pursue starting his or her own company. “We’ve seen an uptick each year in the number of companies wanting to hire VFA fellows,” said Devon Laney, CEO of Innovation Depot. “And from the VFA fellows themselves who have moved to Birmingham, they tell us over and over and over how excited they are about being here, how much they’ve enjoyed their time and the fact that they’re going to stay.” On Friday, the companies held speed interviews. Fellows had 20 minutes to interview with each of as many as eight companies in hopes of finding a fit and an offer. Landon Acriche is ending his two-year VFA fellowship with Alabama Power, where he works as an innovation strategist. He was one of eight fellows who were part of the first Birmingham VFA program two years ago. Acriche was on the other side of the table Friday helping interview potential fellows and telling them about Alabama Power. “They’re making the decision difficult for us,” Acriche said. “Everyone who comes through VFA is very qualified and so everyone we’re speaking to is very interesting and has a lot of great experience.” Acriche said he tells them about the opportunities to learn about all aspects of the business at Alabama Power but also how the company supports new ideas and areas of innovation. And what does he tell them about Birmingham? “I’m telling them it’s awesome,” he said. “They’re coming to the conclusion that we all love it here.” Jared Weinstein, a New York venture capitalist who attended Mountain Brook High School, has also been singing the praises of the Magic City. He approached Nelson a couple of years ago and asked if VFA would consider Birmingham among new cities for a regional job fair. “I was skeptical, to say the least,” Nelson said. “It’s a smaller city. We work in Cleveland, Philadelphia, Baltimore – which, they’re a little bigger, a little more established in terms of entrepreneurship.” But Weinstein encouraged her to visit Birmingham. Alabama Power officials showed her around the city and Innovation Depot companies told of the great things happening in the area. “Just the welcome and the energy – it was a no-brainer,” Nelson said. “By the end of that day, we were totally sold.” For the fellows, Nelson said the decision of where to go for their fellowship is not one they take lightly. “When you’re a young person, you want to be part of a winning team and part of a team that’s growing,” she said. “If you are able to join up with a group of like-minded individuals and see that progress, then your work is meaningful to you and that keeps you coming back.” Republished with permission of Alabama NewsCenter.
