Kim Manning caught the writing bug in sixth grade and hasn’t looked back since. After graduating with a degree in magazine journalism from the University of Missouri – Columbia (Go Mizzou!), she moved from the family farm to Chicago and started her career as an editorial assistant for a magazine publishing firm.
A brief tenure working in the marketing and communications department for association management firm SmithBucklin was followed by a turn as a managing editor for a food trade magazine. But the stars aligned when Kim read an ad in the Chicago Tribune (yes, this was before online job postings) for a boutique PR agency focused on real estate. The rest is history.
Since joining Taylor Johnson as an account executive in 1999, she has moved through the ranks and is now executive vice president. Having worked with hundreds of projects and clients over the years, not to mention all the different local and national reporters that have covered real estate, she never tires of coming up with that next great cover story, TV placement or social media post that will generate buzz. Kim is responsible for helping oversee Taylor Johnson’s day-today office operations, pursuing new business, supervising account managers, working with the media and overseeing public relations strategies for the firm’s clients.
When she’s not thinking about real estate, Kim enjoys spending time with her husband (thanks SmithBucklin) and two sons. A fan of pop culture and films, she’s attended the Toronto International Film Festival twice and also enjoys binge-watching basically anything Entertainment Weekly suggests, traveling, playing golf and volunteering for her church.
BEYOND THE BIO
With Taylor Johnson since: 1999.
People around the office come to me for: personally – movie reviews; professionally – I’ve been doing this so long, I’m a walking real estate media database.
When I was growing up I thought I’d be: a gymnast, I mean journalist. (“When Harry
Met Sally” fans will get this.) Seriously, I thought I’d be a magazine writer in NYC.
Three words that describe me are: curious, fun, creative.
Proudest TJ Moment: It’s a tie between
seeing my pitch on international investors
turn into a front cover story in the Wall Street Journal for MACK Companies and helping Englewood Construction accept its award for best construction blog by the Construction Writers Association.
Favorite Halloween costume: Bouvier sisters – Patty and Selma, plus Marge Simpson.
My guilty pleasure: watching the Bravo
channel. Jeff Lewis, Andy Cohen and all the Housewives (except Miami) are my addiction.
What I like most about Taylor Johnson: the nature of our business. Real estate is fascinating.
Most people don’t know that: I won a blue ribbon at the Illinois State Fair for a latch-hook rug during my days in 4-H.