Hi, my name is… Karin Gallo.
I’ve lived in the Desert Ridge area for three years and I love it because… It just feels like home. We love how easily you can eat, shop, and play in Desert Ridge plus its proximity to so much in Scottsdale and Phoenix is amazing. We especially love Desert Trails Elementary School where our son Jett is in fourth grade.
A typical day in my life includes… A lot of juggling! A good day starts with a ride on my Peloton, getting my son ready for school and, as the Director of Public Relations and Social Media at Arizona Boardwalk, the rest of my day can include a morning TV live shot at Butterfly Wonderland, a magazine photo shoot at Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, or a video shoot with penguins at OdySea Aquarium for a social media post. Sometimes I am writing press releases or collaborating with social media influencers and other times I am touring Hollywood producers through the complex for a possible new movie. Recently, I worked on a story with “ABC World News Tonight” and the next day I did a story with “People” magazine. Every day is different and that is exactly how I like it.
My family is… My wonderful husband, John, our outgoing 10-year-old son Jett, and our crazy rescue dog, Juno. John and Jett are often “extras” in my live shots or photo shoots at Arizona Boardwalk. They are great sports!
One thing I cannot live without is… Facebook and Instagram. Could I live without them? Sure. But we moved across the country to Arizona only knowing two people here, so being able to connect with friends and family from all over is priceless in my book.
My favorite movie I could never get tired of watching and why… “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Like George Bailey, it moves me to think about the decisions I make, the places I go, and people I come across in my life’s path.
When I was younger, I wanted to be… A sportscaster. An internship in the Press & Publicity Department of Walt Disney World changed my focus to public relations, but I did work in TV news and sports for a short stint.
The song I would sing at Karaoke night is… “Get the Party Started” by Pink.
The one person who motivates me is… My husband John. He is the best human being I know; he’s fair, fun, kind and has an incredible work ethic. He rarely has a bad thing to say about anyone, is a good friend, and a great listener. He is dedicated to his workouts as well as his family. He cooks, cleans, grocery shops, does homework with Jett, and he’s my number one cheerleader. I have no idea how I got so lucky, but I try to be a better person simply because I married the very best.
The last thing that made me laugh out loud was…Watching some outtakes from a video that featured myself and a dear colleague (whom I have known for decades). We weren’t trying to be funny, but we were.
The perfect day… Is any day at the beach. We used to live on an island!
My favorite local nonprofit is… OdySea Aquarium Foundation and Butterfly Wonderland Foundation; both raise money to bring Title I school children on field trips to these wonderful attractions. Both places are so fascinating, magical, and educational. Every child in the area should experience visiting these local treasures.
My life is… Everything I prayed for when I was young: an exciting career, a loving husband, and a happy and healthy child. All of this while living in a warm climate with a lot of sunshine.
The best gift I’ve ever received was… My son, Jett. We tried for several years before I was able to have our beautiful Jett. We can’t imagine life without him.
My dream vacation would be… Beachfront in Hawaii alone with my husband for a few days – and then a few days that include Jett, too.
The best piece of advice I’ve ever received… A college professor encouraged me to, “Enjoy the journey, even though I desperately wanted to reach ‘the goal.’” Looking back, so many little moments in between reaching ‘the goal’ truly make life worth living.
