What’s it like being part of a giant exclamation point or performing for crowds across Beijing and Shanghai during the 2008 Olympics in China?
Just ask Kate Gillem, an account manager at Gard who did both as a piccolo and flute player in her high school and college marching bands.
“I played the flute and piccolo for 14 years and had some experiences of a lifetime,” she says.
A married mother of two, Kate joined Gard earlier this year. She spent some time recently sharing a little more about how she landed here, what she’d chatter about if she had her own YouTube channel and, yes, her time in the marching band spotlight.
What do you do at Gard?
I joined Gard in 2024 as an Account Manager. In my role, I build relationships with clients and share their stories with target audiences.
What led you to this work?
When I saw the job posting, I was managing my own small consulting business and working as a ghostwriter for state senators, a congressman and nonprofit clients, and primarily focusing my time on my two daughters as a stay-at-home mom. My background is centered largely in the political space; I worked as the communications director in the Oregon State Senate through multiple legislative walkouts. I had a short stint in the hospital to have my oldest daughter in the middle of one of said walkouts.
I had been curious about getting back out into the workforce because my husband, my kids and I had just moved to Portland a few months before, and the commerce and opportunities in the Portland metro area were calling to me. So when I saw the job posting, I had to at least try. It feels like an incredible break in my career to land at a place like Gard. I get to use the public affairs and crisis communications skills I gained in the political space but for a wide array of clients across many industries, and I am excited about that.
If you weren’t doing this job, what would you want to be doing?
I consume most content on YouTube, including news, commentary and comedy (YouTube Shorts are my jam), so I’d probably start my own YouTube channel called something like, “The Update with Kate” where I’d chime in on royal news, fashion and pop culture.
Where did you grow up and where have you lived?
I moved three times as a young girl, starting out in Arizona, then Colorado (go Broncos!) and finally landing in Oregon when I was in the middle of fourth grade. I lived in Washington, D.C. for grad school at Georgetown. I enjoyed living in D.C. and being steps away from American history. Walking by Capitol Hill never got old.
Any favorite hobbies?
I enjoy sewing. I like making sunglasses cases, purses and zipper pouches. I go thrifting and try to find clothes to upcycle or turn into something new and ready-to-wear – “Project Runway” style. I enjoy running and ran the Newport marathon in 2015. I’ve done a few other races since then.
What’s your favorite book?
“A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” by Betty Smith.
How about a favorite movie or television show?
“Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and “Parks and Recreation.”
Tell us more about your flute- and piccolo-playing days.
Music has been an important part of my life, and I’ve had some great life experiences with my flute and piccolo in hand. For example, I went with my high school band to the 2008 Olympics in China, where we performed around the Olympic Village, and we saw fencing and men’s basketball live. Additionally, I participated in marching band during my undergraduate studies at Oregon State University. I’ll never forget being part of the exclamation mark in the BEAVERS! spell-out, having my shako (the fancy hats we wore) topple off mid-performance or the surreal yet electrifying experience of the entire student section shouting down, “Hey-Oh!” in the “Hey Song.”
