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 Name:
Kevin Hawkins, CFE
Title: Director
Facility/Company: Laurie Auditorium/
Trinity University
City-State-Country: San Antonio,Texas
Year CFE obtained: 2006
Email:
khawkins@trinity.edu
What facilities have you worked in?
As a production person in just about every hotel and venue in San
Antonio and as a manager/director at Laurie Auditorium since 1985.
What is your favorite food or restaurant?
Barbecue (Smitty’s in Lockhart,Texas) or most any Tex-Mex in San Antonio.
What book are you currently reading (or what is
your favorite book)?
Shelby Foote’s three-volume series on the Civil War.
What CD or cassette is in your car right now?
Probably something by Dire Straits or Johnny Cash.
What is a motto, inspiration or quote you try to
live by?
“Live in the moment.”
Why did you choose to pursue the CFE?
Honestly, on a whim I pulled the application off the Web site.As I
started to read I realized I had already accomplished many of the
requirements on the application. I was finishing up my second year at
Oglebay that summer and thought it would be a great time to apply.
I was really looking for an opportunity to expand my professional
credentials in a truly meaningful way. I was not looking for another
“certificate of completion.” I felt then, as I do now, that the CFE was the
“genuine article” that I was looking for.
Did you find the process to obtain the CFE
challenging?
Yes I did. The more I became involved in the process, the more
challenging it seemed to be, but I was determined to see it through.This was
the first time I had come across a professional certification that seemed to
me to be really worthwhile.
Which part of the process did you find most
challenging?
Quite frankly, the whole process was challenging, from gathering the
necessary documentation to sitting alone in a chilly classroom taking the
written exam. By far I found the most challenging aspect of the process to
be the oral interview. I found that I had a huge amount of pertinent
information in my head and a strong desire to spit it all out at once. After
my last interview, I joked with my colleagues about how stone-faced they
were during the interview.
What advice would you give to other colleagues
concerning the process?
Don’t let those stone faces intimidate you. That’s not why they are there.
This is a serious interview to determine the scope of your knowledge, not a
chance to trip you up. Remember, they want you to succeed! Realize that the
CFE Board is charged with the task of upholding the very high standards
established for the credential. For CFE to have any true value, its
integrity must be closely guarded.
My advice to anyone who has accepted the challenge of the CFE process is
determination. It took me two attempts to pass the interview, and I
encourage anyone who has been previously deferred to persevere in the
process. The secret, if there is one, is to stay on subject at the oral
interview step.
Answer their questions fully and don’t ramble on or deviate outside or
around the questioned competency. Learn, study and practice with real
people. Be yourself; show them who you are as a professional and that you
know what you’re talking about. Relax. Breathe. As my mentor would say,
“This is your time to shine!”
What has been a benefit or is a benefit of
having a CFE?
I feel that the benefit of the CFE is the broadening of my experience
and education within our industry. It has brought me together with my
colleagues, not just at trade shows or conferences but also on the phone and
the Internet. It’s an opportunity to exchange experiences and, more
importantly, ideas with my peers.
It means implementing those ideas in my building. It will also be an
opportunity and, in some respects, a responsibility for me to continue to
learn and grow professionally and hopefully to pass on the things I learned
from my own experiences to others in our business.
Would you recommend attaining CFE to other
international colleagues? Why?
I would heartily recommend the CFE to international colleagues.This is a
great way to establish the industry standard for a body of knowledge. People
will know that when they see CFE after someone’s name it means they have the
knowledge and experience to back it up.
What couldn’t you live without?
The love of my family.
What’s your most prized possession?
Honestly? My skydiving gear. I am an avid, if not slightly crazed skydiver.
What’s your favorite place on earth?
Freefall.
What’s the one thing most people would be surprised to learn about you?
That I am a deeply spiritual person.
Is
there anything else you would like to add?
I have to add my thanks to my wife and daughters for all their support in
everything I do. I also have to thank my mentor, John Meyer, CFE and Dana
Glazier of IAAM for providing me with endless patience and encouragement.
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