2016 40 Under 40 Yearbook: Kristin Kubitschek, 44

Then: Public relations manager, Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau
Now: Consultant, Pyongyang University of Science and Technology School of Medicine

Kristin Kubitschek may be a Springfieldian at heart – she still has a 417 area code for her cellphone – but her work life has taken her all over the world.

As field communications director the past seven years for Colorado Springs, Colo.-based Compassion International, she’s led a global team in advocating for children living in poverty.

“I absolutely love working with people from so many different cultures,” she says. “I never would have imagined I would have such a role as this, but it’s an absolutely perfect fit. Springfield was such a wonderful place to grow up, to be developed and to be a launch pad into other things.

“Now I go travel by myself to all these remote places of the world. I remember in high school I had a teacher jokingly say, ‘Well, it’s not like you’ll ever need to know Swahili or anything.’ Now, I actually know a few words in Swahili.”

The former Convoy of Hope public relations director has visited over 25 countries, and her work has set her up for a new challenge.

The next few months, she’s working as a consultant for Pyongyang University of Science and Technology School of Medicine, a job that will have her assisting the college with its communications plan.

“I am not planning to travel to North Korea since only the teaching physicians are allowed entry into the country, but I’m thankful to play any part in providing help there,” Kubitschek says.