Forty Under 40: Kimberly Polite

Leave it to a former University of Arkansas homecoming queen and cheerleader to figure out she could reach the pedals of a National Guard truck by sitting on a fire extinguisher. That kind of ingenuity also got Kimberly Polite voted “trainee leader” among 2,500 women during military training.nPolite the new director of events for Dixie Development, the 53,410-SF Rogers Expo Center and Studio 265 graduated from the UA in 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in English. The McGehee native sold building materials from 1994 to 1996 for Weyerhaeuser Corp. in Oklahoma City. During that time, the death of her brother motivated her to return to what made her happiest being part of athletics and event planning. nPolite earned her master’s degree in athletic administration from the UA in 1997. From 1997 to 1999, she was the manager of facilities and events for Kansas University athletics. That led to a five-year career at her alma mater where she ultimately became assistant director of special events. She was also the UA Alumni Association’s assistant director for campus programs and facility manager for the Alumni House.nThe Junior Leaguer said she is excited about the expo because its events will benefit the community. n