In this episode, Kurt Hartmaier, a 2004 Western Washington University graduate, shares his career journey to opening The Blue Abode Bar with his wife Katy. Kurt started out his career working for a running shoe company to pay homage to his other passion at the time, running, where he was a company-sponsored athlete. He then joined Farmers Insurance for a while as an agent and later worked at RacerMate Inc. in sales and technical support. After these few jobs, Kurt decided to go into bartending and restaurant management for a few years until he decided to combine his current role with his Marketing experience and open The Blue Abode Bar. Kurt is a testament to the idea that interests and career changes happen, and are normal. His advice for soon-to-be graduates is to find your passion first because you can always combine your marketing degree with your passions. It also helps to have a wonderful partner alongside you.

Follow Kurt online LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurthartm...   

Website: The BLUE ABODE Bar

Instagram: THE BLUE ABODE BAR (@theblue.abodebar) • Instagram photos and videos

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/THEBLUEABODE...

Hosts: Steinar Mikkelson & Talia Aukema-Gray 

Producers: Karlie Kildall & Sara Slone 

Editor: Arnav SenGupta 

Guest Booker: Karlie Kildall 

Product Manager: Jace Gersten 

Professor: Daniel Purdy