Today we’d like to introduce you to Hailee Beltzhoover Zuniga.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m Hailee, a small-town girl from Irmo, South Carolina that decided to live her busy city dreams here in Hotlanta! I have been a theatre artist most of my life and attended Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC. I received my Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Performance and moved to NYC in February of 2020. Yes, the BEST possible time to move to New York! That quickly fell apart, and I went back to my roots in South Carolina to teach theatre at a Title-One school for 6th-8th grade. After two years in a public school, the theatre bug got to me again, and I realized I needed to go somewhere with a more dynamic theatre community. Atlanta happened to be the best fit for me at the time, and after only a year and a half of being here, I am in love with this city and all of the amazing things that make it unique. After falling on my face for the first nine months I was here, I landed a dream of a job as the Concierge and Ambassador of the renowned Woodruff Arts Center. I encourage you to stop by our campus and say hello! During the day, I have the opportunity to greet patrons, assist with various needs of our administrative leaders, and reach out to other Atlanta staple institutions such as the Botanical Gardens, Puppetry Museum, and more to form connections. I genuinely love the work I do.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’ve had the smoothest road and no struggles at all; My life is perfect! Said no one, ever. Moving to New York City at the brink of a pandemic was a huge kick in the no-no square, but it did lead me to teaching theatre at an underprivileged school, which showed me a new love for the arts and education. Teaching in a public school setting was a huge challenge, especially teaching theatre through Zoom. It pushed me to be resourceful and appreciate what art does for students during hard times. Theatre in a lot of ways is the art of human connection, so this challenge really helped me grow as an artist, an educator, and as a human. The next road bump I ran into was moving to Atlanta and telling myself, “I’M GOING TO BE A FULL TIME ACTOR!” In case you didn’t know, actors are some of the most tirelessly working, underpaid, overqualified people walking this earth. I took any gig I could find; I probably had 50 jobs within six months. This was yet another struggle that led me to printing out a stack of resumes and walking around Midtown, trying to find my place. I happened to run into the Security Director at Woodruff, and he encouraged me to apply for the concierge role. I’ve been at The Woodruff since February 2023, and I truly can’t put into words how important the work that is done on this campus is not only to the community of Atlanta but the standard it sets for cultural arts centers around the world. I’m a firm believer that everything always works out in the end, one way or another. I’m so grateful for the struggles that led me to Atlanta and especially to The Woodruff Arts Center.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The Woodruff Arts Center is one of the largest arts centers in the United States and one of the only arts centers that features visual and performing arts on one campus. The Woodruff is home to three globally recognized art partners: The Tony Award Winning Alliance Theatre, The Grammy Award Winning Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and the High Museum of Art, the largest visual arts museum in the Southeastern United States. Aside from the incredible reputation that precedes these organizations, the Woodruff Arts Center is loved for its daily family programming, warm hospitality, central and accessible location, and overall celebrating the arts community here in Atlanta and beyond. One of the tag lines for The Woodruff is “Art is Powerful.” This simple yet weighted statement can be felt the moment you step on campus.
We are the largest arts educator in Georgia and serve almost 1,000,000 students and patrons per year. I’m proud to play a part in the arts community in Atlanta, but I am most proud of the monumental female leadership that has gotten The Woodruff to where it is today. Back in 1905, a small group of women founded the Atlanta Arts Association, an antecedent council that later became The Woodruff Arts Center. Almost twenty years after that, Mrs. Hattie High donated her Peachtree Street brick mansion to become the home for the first art museum in the city. The museum bears her name to this day. Female leadership still plays a huge role in the success of The Woodruff and its clear mission. Ms. Hala Moddelmog (President and CEO) is an inspiring, dedicated, and wonderful person to learn from.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Learn how to pick yourself up. It is inevitable to be knocked down, especially when things are already tough. The old saying “when it rains, it pours” has some truth to it. You have to constantly craft your own resilience. Nothing happens when we give up; everything happens when push to try just one more time. That “one more time” sometimes is the breakthrough we all hope for. Let your defeat be a motivator, your struggles show you your blessings, and always rest when your body and mind tell you to. Keep! Going! The other important lesson that is runner-up to this one: Connections are everything. Humans are hardwired for connection. Find your people, connect your people, and celebrate your people. You never know who you are talking to, and you should always treat waitstaff, CEOs, Broadway stars, and janitors the same. The way you treat people and the way you connect with them is a reflection of you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://haileebrooke4885.wixsite.com/my-site
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haileebzuniga/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hailee.brooke.5
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hailee-beltzhoover-zuniga-984ba6253/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@haileebeltzhoover513/videos
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-643497026
