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The lack of pay for interns is shedding light on concerning patterns within the @kcchamber’s culture. While I was employed there, I experienced repeated harassment and bullying to a level that shocks people when I recount the stories (1/13) https://twitter.com/fox4kc/status/1390465594206654464
Years later, I am ready to talk about one of the instances that lead me to leaving the chamber. While there, I had a stalker who was a son of an owner of a Chamber member org. (2/13)
It started w/ him harassing me at multiple events and escalated to him loitering in the office during required after hours where I was the only staff in the building, screaming at me at events and eventually physically threatening me (twice). (3/13)
After 5+ alarming encounters, I asked the Chamber CAO to ban him from attending events. While he sympathized with my predicament, he was concerned abt negative press it may bring as well as the $ repercussions from the stalker’s father and ultimately denied my request. (4/13)
I then asked they at least send an additional staff member to my events to offer assistance if the stalker was in attendance. Again I was blown off and did not receive formal support. (5/13)
After repeated instances of aggression and documented complaints, CAO finally notified the stalker he was no longer welcome. CAO again commented to me that he was concerned about the possibility of losing $$ because of this. (6/13)
A few weeks later, stalker showed up at the office making a scene. The receptionist told him I was not available, was afraid 4 her safety and walked away. He was left to angrily roam the hallways while I was there. There was a @CenturionsKC meeting happening at the time. (7/13)
A coworker saw stalker and alerted CAO. CAO felt asking stalker to leave would cause a scene in front of @CenturionsKC so he chose to let him remain wandering our private office unsupervised. CAO directed my coworker not to tell me the stalker was in the office. (8/13)
I am eternally grateful to this coworker as they went against CAO’s directive and secretly helped me make a swift exit. I later heard he was wandering the office for at least 30 min. (9/13)
A few months later, CAO requested a meeting with me. As a young woman who had heard CAO comment multiple times on “how pretty” I was, I did not feel comfortable meeting with him alone. I requested my VP attend the meeting with me for this reason. (10/13)
VP agreed w/ my concerns and swore she would attend the meeting. Before we even sat down, CAO kicked her out of the room. She left me alone with him and closed the door behind her. (11/13)
I sat terrified in his office for 35 minutes sobbing while he lectured me in his words: “as I would speak to my own daughter.” (12/13)
I wish I could tell 22 year old me that she’s powerful and strong and worth protecting. I don’t have a time machine so maybe an unpaid intern will see this and she’ll know - she too is worth protecting. (13/13)
