“Be flexible in every situation. You never know when you walk through the door how your day will unfold, so in any unexpected situation, just take it with the mindset that you’ll laugh about this in five years.” – Holly Cain
For over 26 years, Holly Cain has played an instrumental role in shaping Quincy, Illinois as a premier destination, serving as the Executive Director of the Quincy Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (QACVB). Her path to this leadership role was anything but traditional. As a former Communications, Speech, and Public Relations major, Cain’s focus wasn’t necessarily on tourism, but as luck would have it, a job with the Oakley Lindsay Center led her into a career that she never saw coming. What started as a career shift quickly became a passion, and decades later, she’s still deeply invested in the work that keeps Quincy on the map.
They say that if you love your job, you’ll never work a day in your life. For Holly Cain, loving her job is just the beginning. “Every day the job changes, and it’s such a creative job,” she said with enthusiasm. Holly’s role is far more than just making Quincy a place people want to visit. The QACVB, Holly, and her team work hard to cover Adams, Pike, and Hancock counties. These areas are incredibly diverse, encompassing everything from hunting and religious tourism in Nauvoo to architectural tours and sports events in Quincy. “It’s multifaceted, always changing, and there’s never a dull moment,” said Holly, perfectly summing up the dynamic nature of her position.
With a position as multifaceted as Holly’s, there has to be a leader who works from a place of support and collaboration. Luckily for Cain’s team, that’s the exact leadership style she strives to achieve everyday. “I think I’m very flexible and understanding,” she explained, noting how her leadership style has been shaped by her experiences as not only a mother, but as someone who has been lucky enough to work with a small, tight-knit team.
As a leader who places a special emphasis on family, Holly works to foster an environment of trust with her employees that extends past county and state lines. “Family comes first many times in my mind,” said Holly. Her ability to adapt and accommodate her team’s needs has created a culture of loyalty and productivity. For instance, when a team member wanted to move to St. Louis but continue working remotely, Holly was open to trying it. “It works very well. She probably gets more done than the rest of us because of minimal distractions,” Holly said with a smile and a laugh.
This flexible, nurturing approach has resulted in remarkable staff retention at the Quincy Area Convention and Visitor Bureau. Holly believes that by supporting her team’s changing needs, she’s cultivated an environment where people are motivated to stay and contribute long-term. “Employee retention is so difficult these days, but I’ve gotten lucky,” said Holly. “Lori’s been with our team close to 17 years, and Megan’s been with us for three years. We’ve even had long standing board members that still love the position and what we’re doing, and we’ve been able to keep them on staff or on the board. And I think the reason is because I’ve been flexible with people’s changes and needs and family life.”
Holly is aware of the unique challenges that come with being a female leader, particularly in comparison to her male counterparts. Reflecting on the differences, she mentioned, “My husband is the owner of his own business, and I think his style sometimes is more direct and firm.” By contrast, Holly leads with a quieter, more reflective style. “I’m always like, smooth it out, quiet down, and think about it before you respond,” she shared.
When asked what she thought was the biggest barrier to female leadership, Holly looked at the pay inequities that are still relevant amongst genders. “I think pay is a huge barrier, I really do,” said Holly. “It’s that ceiling that we talk about. I do believe there is still one that women have to worry about.”
Holly attributes much of her leadership style to her mother, who served as the director of a nonprofit organization in Quincy. “I would listen to her phone conversations or be in her office where she was leading a larger team of all women,” remembered Holly. “Her style was very kind and gracious, and very professional. I definitely looked up to her and followed in her footsteps in how I lead others and how I volunteer in the community.”
Flexibility was the ever-present theme in how Holly Cain leads her team, so it was no surprise that her advice to the next generation of female leaders would follow that same adaptable lead. “Be flexible in every situation,” said Holly. “You never know when you walk through the door how your day will unfold, so in any unexpected situation, just take it with the mindset that you’ll laugh about this in five years.”
Holly’s dedication to her role at the Quincy Area Convention and Visitors Bureau remains steadfast, driven by her desire to help others and elevate the city she loves. Whether she’s assisting meeting planners with logistics or guiding visitors to the area’s best spots, Holly’s motivation comes from making a difference. “Helping others motivates me to continue,” proudly stated Holly. “People come to us looking for a hotel room or the best restaurant, or even for advice on simply what to do, so it’s just the act of doing my job and helping others that continues to motivate me.”
As Holly continues to lead the QACVB with a flexible, compassionate approach, her impact on Quincy and the surrounding areas is undeniable. Her leadership not only strengthens the local tourism industry but also paves the way for future female leaders to step into their own power with confidence and grace.
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