Name: Diane Ingolia
Number of Candles on Her Cake: 55
Resides In: Colorado Springs, Colo.
Cool Job: Hospitality Specialist
Company: Focus on the Family

“If you have an incredible way of interacting with people, if you have a sense of humor, if you have a face that says, ‘I’m so glad you’re here. What took you so long?’, you’re an incredible asset to any company.”

This observation comes from Diane Ingolia, but she could be describing herself and the benefit she brings to Focus on the Family as the hospitality specialist. In this position, she trains the guest relations staff, controls the scripting of the Focus on the Family tour and interacts with guests. Her outgoing personality and love for people makes her a perfect fit for the job.

Love and Respect
Diane’s resume includes a degree in elementary education, experience with her own storytelling business and 13 years working with Focus’ guest relations department. All this helped her assemble a program to teach Focus employees how to love and respect guests.

Often when people think of groups visiting Focus, they think, Friendly and warm. But not everyone is friendly and warm. So how do you show kindness to someone who’s not kind to you? Diane says it’s all in your approach.

“Some people come angry, and they leave angry, and there’s nothing you can do about that, but you sure can love and respect those folks. That to me is the most important thing.”

When Diane sees others catch on and apply what she has taught them, it makes her heart so full she wants to burst, she says, “because it’s like your children have caught the vision that people are more important than things. People are not an interruption to your life. People are your life.”

Being Gracious
Diane not only teaches and trains, but each year she also meets and greets thousands of visitors. When the Welcome Center opened in 1994, her team had no idea how many guests would come pouring in. Some of the visitors include large families with 20 children, hostile people who don’t agree with Focus’ positions, celebrities such as the dog Benji, children from Make-A-Wish Foundation and international guests such as the queen of the kingdom of Toro in Uganda and its youngest reigning king, age 9.

Fast Facts:
How many digits in a paycheck?
The salary will vary if you work for a large corporation or a ministry. A public relations position at a large corporation could earn $50,000 and up.

“Hey, I think I could do this!”
Do you . . .
• have a welcoming presence?
• enjoy performing?
• love people?
• talk a lot?

Making It Happen
• Take a speech class. If you love it, consider a career in public relations. If you hate it, this job is probably not for you.
• Major in communications in college.
• Join a band or choir. Volunteer to do a solo if given the opportunity.
• Don’t fake friendliness, because you can’t pretend forever. Your cheerfulness has to be genuine to do well in this career.

Wise Words
“Talking opens so many doors. You can be a salesman, work in retail, work in restaurants or be a tour guide, because you enjoy the variety of people coming at you.” —Diane Ingolia