Meet Kay Smith-Blum
Professional Experience
1981-Present
Co-owner and current CEO of Butch Blum, the premiere European specialty store in Seattle, founded in 1974; extensive domestic and foreign market travel; overseen 7 major remodels, introduced 48 major designers to the Northwest, created nationally acclaimed marketing campaign (Every Man Should) with spin-off licenses for greeting cards and posters; created nationally recognized reward program, BB Skin Game involving 65 area merchants; responsible for all policies regarding human resources, customer service, accounting practices, alterations and tailoring, visual displays and community involvement
1974-1981 Neiman-Marcus
Began as Executive Trainee out of college, February 1974.
Assistant Buyer, Women’s Coats & Suits, Men’s Furnishings & Accessories, Men’s contemporary apparel, June 1974 – August 1975
Men’s Furnishings and Sportswear, Department Manager, Downtown Dallas store, Aug. 1975 – July 1976
Corporate Men’s Dress Shirt & Neckwear Buyer, Aug 1976 – Sept 1978
Extensive European & South American market travel, 17 branch stores
Corporate Men’s Sportswear Buyer, October 1978 – May 1980
Extensive European and Asian market travel, U. S. branch stores (20)
Assistant Store Manager for Merchandise, Beverly Hills store, June 1980 – October 1981, managed $40 million store, leading imports store in chain
Board Experience/Event & Non-Profit Work
2004
Chaired the Butch Blum 30th Anniversary Celebration, benefiting Elementary Instrumental Music programs in the 70 Seattle Public Schools elementary schools; Solicited participation from nationally and locally-recognized event hosts including Tom Skerritt, Josie Bissett, Tom Robbins, KIRO TV’s Amy Clancy, KING TV’s John Curley; Attracted over 800 guests including corporate donors, individuals and new supporters of the Seattle Public Schools’ music programs; Involved student musicians from the SPS marching band, TT Minor’s marching band, 70 chosen EIM participants (4th and 5th graders), jazz bands from Roosevelt High School and Garfield High School; Procured guest appearance by The Presidents of the United States, an internationally-recognized rock band; Netted $183,000 which funded EIM for 2 years and added 2 music teachers to the EIM regimen (New School Foundation was monetary fund manager)
1995 – 2006
Consulted for or established 23 annual funds in as many Seattle Public Schools including but not limited to ORCA, Bryant Elementary, Badgley Wright, Laurelhurst, Roosevelt, Stevens Elementary and Lowell Elementary
1998 – 2004
Washington Middle School PTSA Board (2 years prior to having children in the school); Established Annual Fund (raised $55,000 first year, now raises $150K); Conceived and co-chaired first annual Spring Fling, raised $75,000 (now raises $120K)
1994
Butch Blum 20th anniversary fundraiser for “kids”; Netted $135,000 which benefited Boys and Girls Clubs of King County, Seattle Children’s Home, Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center Children’s Programs, SPS Environmental Endeavors, Childhaven; The Starlight Foundation; 800 in attendance; Attracted 38 nationally acclaimed celebrities with ties to the NW, including Home Improvement’s Richard Karn, NW Exposure’s Janine Turner, Olympic Gold Medalist Rosalyn Sumners, Kindergarten Cop’s Pamela Reed, Grace Under Fire’s Casey Sander, Sonic Nat’l Champion Fred Brown. Other dignitaries included Governor Mike Lowry, Mayor Norm Rice and Constance Rice, Dale Chihuly, Jack Lenore Larson, Brother’s Four, Bob Flick, James A. Hendrix, Diane Schuur, Merrilee Rush, Becca Duran, Ernestine Anderson, the 1979 Sonics National Champions, 6 Olympic champions, Nobel prize winner E. Donnall Thomas, author Tom Robbins, Steve Pool, Detlef Schrempf, Ann Rule, Monica Hart and Steve Raible; Platinum sponsors included AEI Music, Seafirst Bank, & K2; Golden sponsors included KIRO TV, Phil Smart Mercedes, Starbucks, Galvin Flying, Silver sponsors included Hogue Cellars, Nintendo and Jazz Alley
1993
Environmental Endeavors, Montlake Elementary School, environmental sciences & horticultural program grant for $50,000, from Seattle Dept. of Neighborhoods. Built greenhouse and raised beds for garden. Landscaped south site with native plants. Coordinated 2000 volunteer hours.
1992 – 1997
Montlake Elementary School PTSA board member; chaired fundraising committee; established first ever Annual Fund in a public school in Seattle; raised $300,000 in 5 years (fund now raises about $125K annually)
1988 – 1989
University of Washington Business School Advisory board, reviewed and mentored graduate business student projects and thesis
1987 – 1988
Creator/Chair – Perfect Solution, a coalition board and event for 6 medical research/services organizations in Seattle including the Arthritis Foundation, Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, Huntington’s Foundation of the NW, Haddassah Circle for Diabetes Research, The NW Leukemia Society and the Hope Heart Institute; netted $250,000 annually.
1985 – 1986
Seattle Symphony Women’s Board; Special consultant/creator of Starlight Symphoneve, netted $86,000; Starflite Symphoneve, netted $92,000. Were the largest fundraisers in Seattle Symphony’s history to that date
1986
Downtown Seattle Association, Board of Directors
1987
DSA Marketing Committee – Chair; coordinated the selection of first major Downtown Seattle advertising campaign; created first ever multi-store event in Downtown Seattle, developed strategies for drawing mini user into downtown (ie holiday Carousel and surrounding activities, summer free concert series, etc)
1984 – 1988
Arthritis Foundation of Washington, Chair of Event committee; Created Butch Blum-sponsored fundraiser for 1,000 attendants in airplane hangar at Boeing Field; netted $46,000 (largest fundraiser for Arthritis in the NW to that date)
1983 – 1987
Founding Board member, Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences (SAAS); Chaired SAAS Marketing Committee
1982 – 1983
Northwest School, Board of Directors
Education
1974
University of Texas at Austin
Bachelors of Business Administration
Marketing Major
1970
William B. Travis Public High School, Austin TX
Personal
Married 28 years to Butch Blum
Mother of 3 boys:
Case Maxwell Blum, graduate of Miami University of Ohio, currently employed full time as architect with Callison, Seattle WA
Kyle Maurice Blum, Garfield High School graduate, currently attending Colgate University, summer internship with WA. Budget and Policy Center, 2009
Bryce Clifford Blum, Garfield High School graduate, currently attending Trinity College, summer internship with the Center for Children and Youth Justice (founded by former Wa. State Supreme Court Justice, Bobbe Bridge), 2009