Life & Work with Kathy Hinchman of Grosse Pointe Shores, MI

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathy Hinchman

Hi Kathy, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit, and I was the youngest of four children. My father was a milkman for Wilson Dairy and my mother was a stay-at-home mom. After high school my first fulltime job was in 1978 at a computer company as a shipping clerk. I worked my way up in that job to become Midwest Regional Warehouse Supervisor in charge of all computer shipping/receiving in the Midwest. After the birth of my second child, I left that job with the desire to start my own business. Eventually I started a business with a friend called CCPlus, Dance~Fun~Fitness. We created a chair dance exercise business in 1995 for seniors in independent and assisted living facilities and nursing homes called “Second Chance to Dance”. The senior population loved to dance back in their prime so we designed a program where they could still dance but from a chair. That program become very popular very quickly and we knew we had to grow it to include others who loved to dance but did not have the opportunity. We developed another program, this time for children and adults with special needs, and we called that program “My Chance to Dance”. At the time inclusion was not a thing, and this population did not have a place to go to do what they love to do, which is sing and dance. We taught in local school gyms and in local workshops. This program became very popular as well, and we received an award from Michigan Governor Engler. This opened the door for our “My Chance to Dance” program to be included in Michigan Special Olympics Winter and Summer Games, which we proudly did for over 10 years. We opened a fitness studio in Mt Clemens Michigan once Zumba came on the scene, and we served the local community with regular fitness classes until the pandemic. At that time, we had over 50 instructors on staff, and we had no choice but to close the business after 26 years because the two populations we started out teaching classes to were the most vulnerable to Covid. Over the years of owning a business I have developed a love of working with people and I missed the interaction with them after my business closed. I love local Detroit history, and I had been a member of The Edsel and Eleanor Ford House for quite a few years before I saw a job posting in their member newsletter that they were hiring for their new Visitor Experience team once the new Visitor Center opened in May 2021. I sent in my resume and was very fortunate to get hired in a part time position in Visitor Experience and started June 2021. I drove the shuttle bus, I sold tickets at Admissions, I greeted guests at Main Gate and the Main Residence, and I answered phones during the first year I worked at Ford House. In June of 2022 I was promoted to full time as Group Sales Coordinator, handling photography sessions and group tours wanting to visit Ford House. In 2023 Ford House hired someone to handle the growing photography department, and I became Group Tour Coordinator, focusing mainly on groups of 10 or more coming in to visit our pretty estate. I absolutely love my job – every tour brings in people from all over the state, the nation and the world. Our tours range from small local groups to charter bus tours to cruise line excursion tours to large private events.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
All roads in life have obstacles and challenges, but that is what makes us who we are. Starting out in my first job, I was the first female to become a Midwest Regional Warehouse Supervisor. In the early 1980s that was not a job for women. I drove a hi-lo, I worked in a strictly male environment. In my own business, we were up against people who did not appreciate inclusion and diversity. These struggles helped me to appreciate what I believe in and what I stand for.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am currently the Group Tour Coordinator at the beautiful Edsel and Eleanor Ford House. Any group of 10 guests or more wanting a guided tour experience can go through my department. I am the only person in my department, and it can get quite busy! I specialize in making sure everyone who comes to Ford House for a group tour has the best experience possible. I am known for my people skills, for always having a smile on my face. for telling silly jokes to my group tours and for making them feel comfortable at a place they may not have visited before. I am most proud of my ability to grow my department in the two years I have been Group Tour Coordinator. I make it my mission when each tour is on the estate to make sure they are greeted when they arrive, that they get a little history as they head up to the Main Residence to get them excited for what they are about to see and do, and I make sure I am at the exit when they are leaving the Visitor Center at the end of their tour to make sure I hear any compliment, comments or concerns in person.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I see Ford House becoming a ‘go-to’ destination for people visiting the Detroit area. We are open year-round, and besides tours we host many special events including (and not limited to) EyesOn Design, Harvest Day, Little Goblins and our wonderful “Home for the Holidays” Holiday lights display. We are a hidden gem on a beautiful 87-acre estate located on the shores of Lake St. Clair, and the word is getting out that we are a must see!

Pricing:

• Adult One Hour Tour – $10
• Student One Hour Tour – $7
• Adult Two Hour Tour – $15
• Student Two Hour Tour $8

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.fordhouse.org
• Instagram: www.linktr.ee/eefordhouse
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eefordhouse