AAPI Achieve Mentor Spotlight | Bliss Krucas

Name: Bliss Krucas | Business/Profession: Director of Destination Services, Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau

Can you share a bit about your professional background and what inspired you to become a mentor for the AAPI Achieve program?

The opportunity to share knowledge and experience, and the potential to make a positive impact in someone’s life, inspired me to become a mentor.

What do you hope to achieve by mentoring other AAPI professionals, and how do you plan to support your mentee in their career development?

Through mentoring other AAPI professionals, I hope to foster a more diverse professional environment. I aspire to support my mentee in their career development that includes sharing relevant experiences and providing constructive feedback.

What is the most valuable piece of advice you wish someone had given you when you were starting out in your career?

Be confident and know what you want. Knowing what you want is how you set your goals. And to embrace failure as a learning opportunity. It’s through our mistakes and setbacks that we grow the most professionally and personally.

In what ways has your cultural heritage influenced your career, and how do you integrate these experiences into your mentoring style?

Be tenacious, persevere and always look for opportunities to learn.

What is a professional achievement that you are most proud of and why?

When I was hired as a director of sales and convention at one of the hotels in Colorado Springs, I re-evaluated and implemented new sales strategies and guidelines, and it resulted in an increase in sales production. This success not only set a positive tone for the department and team members but also established a valuable precedent for future teams. The revised approach proved effective and became a benchmark for success.