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National Mall ready to take on new look

Executive Profile: Caroline Cunningham, President, Trust for the National Mall

Executive Profile: Caroline Cunningham, President, Trust for the National Mall

By Nicole Duhring

Friday, July 15, 2011

Washington Business Journal

The basics
Background: Cunningham, 48, wants us to understand one thing: She really, really loves her job. But while the longtime fundraiser and strategist says this is the easiest request for money she has ever had to make — helping protect “America’s Front Yard” — Cunningham is not short of obstacles, a small staff and unforgiving economy being a few.

Education: Bachelor’s in international relations and political theory, University of Connecticut

First job: At 13, baby-sitting for a family with five children, ages 8 years to 10 months. It was insane, stupid. Who would entrust their five children to a 13-year-old?

Family: Husband Matt Jacobs, in Chevy Chase

Business strategy
Biggest current challenge: Not having enough staff. We are a new organization — about 3 years old, plus a couple of months. We were just one person — me — and now we have 10. I just got authorization this morning to hire four more. It’s going to be interesting.

Next big goal: Raising $350 million to restore the National Mall.

Strategies for raising that money: Laura Bush just signed on as our honorary chair. We’re putting in place four co-chairs from different sectors, and they will help us recruit a cabinet of about 30 people that will help raise the money.

Best lesson from mentor: Do things right. And I’ve had a few bosses that were not great, and they taught me who I wanted to be.

Judgment calls
Best business decision: To hire a really good public relations firm. We’re only 3 years old, and we had to establish ourselves very quickly.

Hardest lesson learned: Do reference checks. When you’re starting up a company and need support quickly, and someone says this person is fantastic — and then you bring them on, and it turns out to be not such a good idea.

Your worst days: Having to learn ERISA law and what a third-party administrator is for a 401(k). It’s like, huh?

Craziest career decision: My worst career decision was taking a job for money. My craziest was deciding to up and move to Austin, Texas, for a few months to work for [Gov.] Ann Richards. It was so much fun. I just wanted to get away. I got to work on her 65th birthday. I was doing political fundraising at the time. It was Lyle Lovett, Don Henley, Nanci Griffith, Willie Nelson.

What would you change about your job? More staff people. There’s a theme here.

True confessions
Your go-to karaoke song: “I’m a Believer,” by The Monkees

Personality in high school: Counterculture

Car: I’m embarrassed to say it. I drive a Mercedes convertible. I just got it. It was sort of a gift to myself. I drove a Volkswagen Jetta for 11 years.

Favorite/most influential book: History books talking about personal challenge. “First They Killed My Father,” “The Lonely Girl.” I just recently read “Team of Rivals.”

Favorite hobby: I love to sew. I got into it in home ec in eighth grade.

Favorite restaurant: For business, Cafe Du Parc. For personal, I’m a foodie. I love Equinox. But that’s really hard because I like a lot of places.

Favorite place outside of the office: Italy. I would retire there in a hot second.

What do most people not know about you? I’m a nerd. I love history. On the Fourth of July, I read the Declaration of Independence and thought about the signers and what ended up [happening to them]. Nine of them were killed, their children were killed. And then I thought about my work and the National Mall and the little tiny piece I get to play in preserving that history.

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