Kat K

---

I LOVE animals! I have always wanted to work with animals in some capacity, and Jimmy and I have been friends for a few years and he gave me this awesome opportunity. It brightens my day to hang out with them.

A LOT. Fluffy the Guinea Pig, Stubby the mouse, Matty Boy the cat, Fred and Cleo the cats, Arfie the Dog, Toby the Dog, we had some fish when I was little, no idea how many, and I currently have fish (21 total, some have passed away), Bob the chick, Bob II the chick, a hermit crab.

 I love to volunteer and be involved with events. I am currently a "Special Events Ambassador" for the Veteran's Museum Foundation and help with any events I can. My full-time job is at the VA, and I love to do anything I can to help our Veterans. Hoping to volunteer elsewhere in Madison too when my schedule slows down a bit. Giving back to our community is important to me.

I was a promoter/event coordinator in Madison for 10 years, I booked a lot of bands, met a ton of people, and realized my love for throwing an event. Went back to school 10 years ago to get degrees in Meeting/Event Management, and Hotel/Restaurant Management. Worked in the Service Industry for 17 years until last year, and Hotels for 10 years. Switched careers to working at the VA full time 4 years ago, (while still working catering and a restaurant part-time), and I am so glad I have the background that I do! It's helped me in my current career, and I am really prepared for just about anything. ;-) But, Halloween is still my favorite holiday and I love any excuse to throw a theme party. I love to learn, and anything that helps me in my career is a plus. Went back to school, again, 5 years ago and got an Embedded Technical Diploma for the Healthcare Receptionist Program. Also, I just started camping during the pandemic and I LOVE it. My family never went camping when I was a kid. Being outside is my jam! It brings me great peace and joy.

My sister and I are both adopted and are the same age. She is Korean and I am not. I have two brothers who are biological to my adoptive parents and are 12 and 14 years older than my sister and I. My full name is Katrina, but I tend to stay away from the Hurricane name. ;-) My family and anyone from high school and earlier calls me Katie, my friends call me Kat, and I have a variation of nicknames anywhere between the two. Atrium (Don't ask, my sister came up with it. Lol), Kitty Kat, Kit Kat, Katrina Willamina Groobie Ketterer, Katie Clunk, Duchesse, Nekko Ona, Bastet, Katers, Kaytee, K.T., etc. I am a "crazy cat lady" (which is ironic, get it? Kat the Crazy Cat Lady.), but I really love all animals.

When you give an animal a belly rub, it means they trust you. Cats especially only show their bellies to humans they trust, it makes them vulnerable. So to me it means I am blessed to have these wonderful animals I get to take care of who trust me enough to give them a belly rub