Houston marketing firm owner, UHV alumna to give keynote address at fall commencement
KATY – University of Houston-Victoria alumna Christine Hollinden, founding principal of Hollinden | marketers + strategists in Houston, will deliver the keynote address during the university’s Dec. 15 fall commencement ceremony.
Commencement will begin at 11 a.m. at the Leonard E. Merrell Center, 6301 S. Stadium Lane in Katy.
For the past 25 years, Hollinden has been passionate about helping professional services firms distinguish themselves from the pack. Her enthusiastic, forward-thinking approach has earned her industry recognition and status as a strategist and speaker on a variety of marketing and social media topics.
“Each year, we want to find a speaker who has something valuable to say, who is someone students can connect with and who has a career worthy of emulation,” UHV President Bob Glenn said. “Christine shines in all three areas and has achieved great things in her professional career. As a UHV alumna, she represents what we hope the future holds for each of our graduates.”
Hollinden has a Bachelor of Science in business administration from UHV and serves as a member of the university’s Campaign Leadership Committee. She also was the keynote speaker at a UHV Bachelor of Business Administration Conference in 2013 that was attended by undergraduate business students.
Since a part of Hollinden’s own professional history involves a lot of hard work with a bit of luck, she said she plans to reference that theme in her speech. She also will talk about how graduates can stay determined in their careers and keep up momentum despite challenges or setbacks.
She said her favorite aspect about commencement is the way it brings students, friends, families and mentors together to celebrate both the journey to graduation and the springboard to success.
“Commencement is the pinnacle of what, for many, has been a long journey comprised of hard work and sacrifice,” Hollinden said. “The sacrifice is not only that of the graduate, but also that of friends and family who helped along the way. Commencement is a memory that lasts a lifetime, and I hope my words will make it even more meaningful.”
Prior to founding Hollinden in 1993, Christine’s career included director of marketing for KPMG in Houston, regional communications manager for Coopers & Lybrand, and marketing coordinator for Grant Thornton. She is a regular guest lecturer at universities and a frequent speaker at industry conferences. She also teaches the marketing section for the Certified Value Growth Advisor course and the social media marketing session for Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities.
“College prepares students for the real world because every professor has a different set of expectations and communication style,” Hollinden said. “Those nuances are indicative of the workplace. The journey throughout one’s career is rarely a straight line. Adaptability is imperative to an individual’s success.”
In addition to her UHV degree, Hollinden has a Master of Business Administration from Texas A&M University and is designated a Certified Professional Services Marketer. She serves as a member of many committees and professional organizations, including the Advisory Council for the McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship at Texas A&M University and the Board of Directors for the Aggie Angel Network. Ever the “foodie,” she also is vice charge de press for Chaine des Rotisseurs-Houston, a global wine and food society.
UHV holds graduation ceremonies in two different locations each year. Spring commencement is in Victoria, while the fall ceremony is held in Katy to better accommodate UHV students who take classes at UHV Katy. Summer and fall graduates have the option of attending the commencement ceremony in Katy or waiting until the May graduation in Victoria.
For more information about commencement, contact graduation@uhv.edu or UHV at 361-570-4848.
The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 80 academic programs in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as an instructional site in Katy, Texas, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. UHV supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.
