With the 2018 YCLA Gala Event coming up on November 10th, 2018, the Young Caymanian Leaders Foundation wanted to take the time to share more on each of our finalists – focusing on Kimberley Conolly today!

Kimberley Antonette Conolly is an author, entrepreneur and works full-time in the Tourism/Hospitality sector at The Renaissance as an Assistant Manager. Kimberley was the 2016 Cayman Islands Tourism Association Rising Star in Tourism, a 2016 Governor’s Conservation Award finalist and was honored as an Emerging Pioneer in Tourism on Heroes Day 2017. She was also the recipient of The Sinclair’s Group Young Entrepreneur of the Year Runner-Up Award 2016 for the business idea for The Wick Candles & Scents. She prides herself that the Company is about more than candles and generously gives back to the community through the Stuff the Bus school supply drive and community cleanups. The Company has graciously donated to The Breast Cancer Foundation, The National Trust for the Cayman Islands as well as the Clifton Hunter High School 2018 Leisure and Tourism Award package which included a scholarship.

Kimberley is very involved in the community and has volunteered for the National Drug Council, The Breast Cancer Foundation, Cayman Islands Tourism Association, CayFilm, Taste of Cayman and Chicago Cares to name a few. Annually, she invites students to the Stingray Awards and other tourism-related events to expose them to the benefits of being a part of the Tourism industry as a way of encouraging students to make the sector their preferred career choice. She is also Chairwoman for the KAC Foundation, a Community Enrichment Non-profit Organization aimed to tackle social issues such as Child Abuse, Domestic Violence, and unemployment through awareness.

Lastly, she is an avid Toastmaster and currently serves as Area Director for clubs in Grand Cayman and Turks and Caicos. Through the Program, she has conducted Youth Leadership Programs and partnered with National Workforce Development Agency to provide public speaking and leadership training.

Age:  32

Degree: Hospitality Management at UCCI, Hospitality Management, and Revenue Management at Cornell University School of Hotel Administration

Employment: Assistant Manager and Renaissance Condo, Director at The Wick Candles & Scents, Owner at The Wick Travel Services

Accomplishments:

• Published her first novel, the Harmonizing Truth, in 2018
• Heroes Day Emerging Pioneer in Tourism in 2017
• CITA Tourism Rising Star in 2016
• Founder of the KAC Foundation (KAC means Kindness, Awareness Compassion) aimed to tackle Child Abuse, Domestic Violence, and Unemployment through awareness.

Advocacy:

Protect and Prepare Our Children at All Costs

Core Message to the Youth:

“Don’t keep up with the fashion and trends. Follow your dreams sooner rather than later. Life is unpredictable, and we can easily be here today and gone today (not just tomorrow). Whatever you decide to do, be excellent and pursue excellence.”

Personal Interpretation of “It Takes a Village:”

“It means everything to me. I cannot begin to express my gratitude for my village. They have clothed, fed, nourished and taught me so much. Coming from an abusive and broken home as a child I exhibited behavioral issues and thankfully they took me under their wings to guide and help me to realize all the potential I had. I am the person and leader I am today because of them. They were heaven sent.”

We are so proud to call Kimberley Conolly one of our Finalists this year and can’t wait to celebrate her and the other four finalists at this year’s YCLA 2018 Gala Event!

YCLA 2018 EVENT DETAILS

This year’s gala event will be held on November 10th at the Kimpton Seafire to celebrate and honor this year’s YCLA 2018 Finalists – Kacey Mobley, Kimberley Conolly, Samuel Young, Staci Scott, and Wilbur Welcome. Tickets for the YCLA 2018 Gala Event are available, and the deadline to purchase tickets is Friday, 11/02! The cost is $250 per person. Corporate tables of ten are also available for $2,500. The event is November 10, 2018, at the Kimpton Seafire Resort and Spa. The theme is “It Takes a Village.” Doors open for the reception at 6 pm. At 6:45, doors are closed to accommodate the live telecast. Doors re-open after the broadcast for the remainder of the evening to celebrate.

If you wish to purchase tickets or tables for this year’s event, please contact Brianna at brianna@ycla.ky.