Kathy Baker

Member Spotlight: 

Kathy was born in California, Missouri which is a very small town located in the center of the state about 25 miles from the state capitol, Jefferson City.  She was raised along with three older brothers and a sister on a 670-acre farm where her father raised cattle, hogs, and grew a variety of crops.  Her mother taught first grade.  At the University of Missouri, Kathy earned a degree in English and met her husband, Ed, both graduating and getting married in 1983.  Later, she returned and completed her certification to teach secondary school English.  Following college, her husband pursued a career in hotel management.  

In 1994, after Ed’s career progressed from General Manager to partner in Executive  Hotel Management, Kathy left teaching to work with him in hotel management.  During that time, she performed roles in housekeeping, training, management and sales.  She purchased inventory and managed three profitable hotel gift shops for many years.  In April of 2025, their company sold the Crowne Plaza in Baton Rouge, and then sold the Crowne Plaza in Knoxville in August of 2025.  Their one hotel remaining is the Holiday Inn on Constitution Avenue in Baton Rouge.  They are actively exploring other hospitality ventures to expand and acquire.  

Their primary residence has been in Baton Rouge for 14 years.  They both enjoy bicycle riding in Louisiana and beyond its borders.  They also enjoy traveling abroad and have been able to combine their love of travel and bicycling with memorable cycling adventures in numerous countries, but most memorably in Switzerland, Tuscany, and Albania.  Although in nearly 43 years of marriage, they did not have children but have had the pleasure of living with three cats including their current companion, Stella, a 10-year-old TortoiseShell Persion.

Kathy serves on the boards of Opera Louisiane and Cat Haven in Baton Rouge and is a member of Rotary, Quota, and the LSU Women’s Basketball Fast Break Club.  She attends Trinity Lutheran Church in Baton Rouge.  Life has been the most extraordinary adventure and continues to exceed her expectations.  

Kathy joined MSWIT this year after enjoying our 50th Anniversary Celebration.  She is very excited to be participating in our Travel Fair at our August 15th Fashion Show Fundraiser!