Meet Christa Kozy: She promotes Hartville Kitchen, and loves the community

Christa Kozy has a busy job filled with lots of fun and people. She is the marketing and group tours coordinator for Hartville Kitchen Restaurant & Bakery.

She graduated from Buckeye Central High School and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from the University of Akron in secondary education.

She and her daughter Lucy live in Hartville and they both love the people in the area. Plus, she said, Hartville reminds her of her hometown.

"Every time someone asks why I like the Hartville area so much, my answer is always the people,” Kozy said. “The strong sense of community here in Lake Township fosters deep connections and genuine relationships and caring for one another.

“I grew up in a rural village and always thought when I went away to college that I would end up living in the city because I loved the excitement. However, I discovered that I genuinely appreciate the peaceful and unhurried pace of Hartville, as well as the friendly atmosphere it offers. It's a place where one can easily access various great destinations while still enjoying the close-knit ambiance of a small town. The sense of community and knowing one's neighbors is something I particularly value.”

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Would you share what you do at the Hartville Kitchen?

My title is marketing and group tours coordinator and I also oversee social media and community relations and outreach. I’m also responsible for the website and any listings where our company is featured.

I also coordinate the destination marketing campaigns and outreach events for the campus, which includes Hartville Hardware, Hartville MarketPlace and Hartville Kitchen Restaurant & Bakery.

What other community boards or committees do you participate in?

I am excited to be back on the Lake Township Chamber of Commerce Board (after having served that organization as president from 2007-2017), Lake Chamber’s Discover Hartville Tourism Committee, Hartville/Lake Community Development Committee, past president of Lake Township Rotary, Visit Canton Board of Directors, Ohio Travel Association Board, volunteer at Love Our Community, Lake Friends of the Library and my church, RiverTree Lake in Hartville.

Why do you think it is so important to promote the Lake Township/Hartville area and Stark County?

Promoting the Lake Township/Hartville area and Stark County is incredibly important for various reasons. Tourism plays a vital role in our local economy, contributing over $1 billion annually to the county.

Collaborating with Visit Canton and other Stark County destinations, we strive to provide exceptional experiences for both visitors and residents. It's truly rewarding to witness the positive impact on local businesses, events and nonprofit organizations within our community.

Personally, I have a special connection to Hartville, and the prospect of returning home after traveling always fills me with joy. It's a place brimming with potential, and I'm grateful to raise my daughter in such a welcoming environment.

Would you describe a recent adventure you and your family have had in the past year?

My daughter’s namesake is Lucille Ball so naturally the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival in Jamestown, New York, is one of our favorite travel destinations. The Lucy-Desi Museum and National Comedy Center truly offer an engaging experience for people of all ages.

The interactive nature of the museum is unparalleled, and the diverse range of comedy genres represented there, including comics, movies, late-night shows and television, evokes fond memories of both childhood and contemporary films and TV.

Last August, we had the pleasure of inviting my friend and her daughter to join us for this annual event. One of the highlights of our trip was watching them re-enact the iconic scenes from the TV show, such as the Chocolate Factory and Vitameatavegamin scenes.

Another unforgettable moment occurred when we encountered a group of ladies from my dad’s hometown of Tiffin, Ohio, who happened to be visiting the museum at the same time as us. They noticed my daughter, with her red wig and custom Vitameatavegamin dress, and enthusiastically invited her onto the I Love Lucy TV show apartment set to take photos with them.

It was truly delightful to witness the excitement of these ladies, who were thrilled to see a teenager share their love for the show.

What keeps your creativity fresh and flowing?

You'll often find me with my nose buried in books, blogs, industry publications, travel social media posts, visitor guides and travel magazines, all in my quest for gathering ideas and finding inspiration.

My daughter can vouch for my (admittedly geeky) excitement whenever we receive a visitor or travel guide in the mail. She knows that our first stop on any trip is the local chamber of commerce office or visitor center.

Whenever we hit the turnpike, you can bet that we'll make a beeline for the brochure racks to plan our next adventure (and to double-check the information about Hartville on display!). While I do consume a lot of digital content, there's something uniquely satisfying about holding a print piece in my hands. Perhaps it stems from fond childhood memories of dunking my toast in my grandpa's coffee while we read the morning newspaper together over breakfast.

Nowadays, nothing beats having something tangible to read (along with more coffee) when I'm planning travel or seeking inspiration and ideas for my role at Hartville Kitchen.

Working closely with our management and frontline staff keeps me well-attuned to the needs of our customers. Additionally, I find great inspiration by exchanging ideas with fellow tourism professionals.

The networking opportunities within the destination marketing and tourism industry are unlike any other I've experienced — instead of competition, there's a spirit of collaboration and cooperation.

I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have been mentored by some of the finest tourism professionals in this region, who have not only provided invaluable perspectives but also connected me with valuable resources, helping me elevate our destination.

Editor's note: Five questions with ... is a Sunday feature that showcases a member of the Stark County community. If you'd like to recommend someone to participate, send an email to newsroom@cantonrep.com.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: 5 questions with Christa Kozy of Hartville Kitchen Restaurant & Bakery