Kelly O'Dwyer is a local graduate of Lake Hamilton High School. She earned an M.B.A. with a concentration in Marketing and pursued a career in advertising and marketing. Recognizing trends and market dynamics, Kelly returned to Hot Springs to begin a career in real estate utilizing her experience and knowledge. She's a great asset to the Coldwell Banker RPM Group team. We sat down with Kelly to get to know her a little better:
If you had to organize a tour of your area of expertise (Hot Springs), what three must-visit places would you hit?
The beauty of Hot Springs is that there is truly something for everyone. Start the morning with a leisurely walk down historical Bathhouse Row and back up the Promenade. Seeing the same strip from two distinct vantage points is something special. Don’t forget to stop and fill up a bottle of water at one of the natural springs along the way. Next, head to Oaklawn to watch the ponies kick-up dust while enjoying a premium cocktail at the new First Turn Bar which overlooks the track. End the evening on a relaxing note by taking in a colorful sunset over beautiful Lake Hamilton. There is nothing better than an evening boat ride to wrap up a day of fun in Hot Springs.
What’s your favorite ethnic food? Is there a restaurant in town that does it well?
I spent five months in Florence, Italy, studying abroad. To this day, Italian cuisine is my favorite. Hot Springs restauranteurs do Italian exceedingly well, in my opinion. From artisan pizzas downtown to fine dining experiences, Hot Springs has much to offer when it comes to Italian. Molto delizioso!
If you could go to dinner with three people in history, who would they be and why?
I love this question and I’m fairly certain it landed me a job in my mid-20s. My answer remains the same. Martin Luther King, Jr., Bill Clinton, and Dolly Parton are my dream dinner guests. Martin Luther King, Jr. for his extraordinary leadership qualities and ability to unite—unmatched in my opinion. Love him or hate him, it is an experience to meet Bill Clinton. Clinton was raised in Hot Springs, and if you’ve met him, you know of his unmatched ability to remember names/faces and make a person feel they are the only one in the room. Lastly, Dolly Parton is an icon and legend who I have loved since childhood—my first concert in fact. Dolly is self-made, true to herself, and all about living a life that gives to others. An original.
What do you like to do when you are not working? Or what are your hobbies?
During my downtime, I most often find myself cruising Lake Hamilton with three adorable dogs in tow, relaxing with a glass of wine in hand, or coming up with projects to complete the look at our new home. I have a slightly unhealthy obsession with furniture and accessory shopping. Fortunately, I’ve been able to channel this into real estate renovation and home staging. ;-)
What’s your favorite movie of all time? What’s your favorite TV show right now? Favorite sport to watch on TV?
I am the master of guilty pleasure reality television. Usually, I try to keep this top-secret but in the spirit of transparency, I love the escape reality TV provides. I am currently living for BRAVO channel—and have been for the last decade or so.
Favorite travel spot?
I love love love travel! Travel is so good for the soul. It would be impossible for me to choose a favorite destination. A few favorites include Tuscany, San Miguel de Allende, Denali, and the British Virgin Islands. My travel bucket list continues to grow!
If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you like to see cast as you? And what would it be called?
In a perfect dream world, Anne Hathaway would be cast to play me in a movie titled “Family Tradition.” The movie would be a parody centered around my cousins and family. And if you happen to know the Kerksieck family from Stuttgart, you understand how entertaining this would be!
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