Meet ALA’s New Director of Membership: Carrie Kolles

We’re thrilled to have Carrie Kolles on board at ALA, and since the lighting industry – and the ALA – is very much a people industry, we want to share a bit more about her. Carrie will be attending her first Lightovation show next month, but for those who aren’t able to attend, we asked Carrie to answer a few questions just as if you were meeting her at one of the ALA events during Lightovation (i.e. the Women in Lighting Event will be held on Wednesday, January 10, from 5-6 p.m. in the Eurofase showroom, and the Young Executives event will be held on Thursday, January 11, from 5-6 p.m. in the Progress Lighting showroom).

What do you like to do in your free time?
I love to read! I love my library card and those “Little Free Libraries” in my community. I like reading historical fiction, NYT bestsellers, terrorist thrillers, and basically any book that can grab my attention within the first five pages.

I also love hiking. My husband and I live in the Kettle Moraine in Wisconsin and the Ice Age Trail is practically right at our back door.  Nothing is better than watching the sunrise or sunset while hiking through the woods. 

Do you have a favorite sports team?
Go Johnnies (the Saint John’s University football team). I really love D3 college ball; those athletes play for the love of the game with zero scholarship money.  Although, growing up in Minnesota, it is in your blood to be a Vikings fan!

Do you participate in any sports?
I have played tennis since I was six years old and spent 15 years of my professional life managing a racquet sports facility (tennis, pickleball, paddle tennis) and sharing my love of racquet sports with 4 to 94-year-olds!  My love of tennis has spread into an appreciation for the silly fun of pickleball. I have learned to embrace the kitchen and a dink — but, as an adult, my true passion is golf.  In an ideal world, I would be on the course three days a week. I love the challenge, I love how the game is different every time you play, and I love that it is played outside.  Best of all, I love that I can walk away after the worst round and still cannot wait to get back on the course. 

What have you enjoyed most about your past work as a membership director?
Anyone who has worked with me knows that I am a question-asker.  Why are you a member?  Why are you not a member? Why are we doing it this way?  Have we tried it like this? Can we make this process better? Working in membership is like putting together a puzzle and figuring out how all the pieces work best together. 

Is there a place you’d like to visit while you are in Dallas?
I am a Midwest girl.  I grew up in Minnesota, spent 20 years in Chicago, and now live in Wisconsin. Dallas is all new to me and I want to see it all! I am always open to recommendations.

What’s a fun fact about you that people are surprised to find out?
My inner nerd loves board games. You can find my husband and I sitting by our fireplace in the winter or sitting outside at a local brewery during the summer playing round after round of Skipbo or Sequence. (If you have never heard of these games, ask me!  I will tell you all about them.)  If we are at a family gathering, Telestrations is always our top choice for a laugh-until-you-cry game.