Since Neiman Marcus Director of Charitable Giving Kevin Hurst moved to Dallas in 2013, he’s proved to have the NM DNA of creativity and style. One example was when the decision was made to no longer use the crawl tubes that had been featured in the NM Downtown store windows at Christmas time. Instead of tossing them out, Kevin arranged to have them donated to Spark Dallas.
When he learned that about the Herbert Marcus Elementary School, he had the NM marketing staff pull off “A Teacher Appreciation Party” complete with gifts, a DJ, food and reams of paper for classrooms.
He became a dedicated member of various nonprofits like the Business Council for the Arts. So dedicated that he co-chaired the annual Obelisk Awards Luncheon in 2015 and 2016.
It was no surprise that he led the charge to partner up with Texas Discovery Garden to break ground for the Minnie Marcus Butterfly Garden at One Main Place. The connection? That had been the spot where the first NM had been decades ago.
But Kevin wasn’t just providing cheer and goodness. When the tornado ripped through the Canton area in April 2017, Kevin joined the American Red Cross to survey the area to help the recovery effort and provided a firsthand description. When Dallas suffered the tragic police shootings in July 2016, Kevin eloquently shared how NM and other corporations took steps to help the healing process.
It was never a surprise to see the bowtied Kevin show up to support an area nonprofits. That is why it’s bittersweet to reveal that he’s turned in his resignation and will be heading to Ohio to devote his time in a new venture with former NM Downtown GM Jeff Byron.
According to Kevin,
“Sometimes life presents an opportunity and you have to make a tough decision. I have found myself at those crossroads. I am writing to share that I have tendered my resignation with Neiman Marcus.
Jeff and I became partners in a small Italian epicurean and wine shop in Columbus, Ohio…think Dean and DeLuca meets Sur La Table – wine, packaged foods, cooking classes, and kitchen goods. We have decided to expand the business and are making additional capital investments to offer prepared foods. With that, there will need to be more day-to-day oversight by the partners and leverage all of our talents; retail, marketing, PR, communications, community outreach, etc. I have made the decision to devote myself full-time to the venture and will be relocating at the end of July.
“I absolutely love what I do for NM and I am honored to have been given the opportunity to implement and oversee NM’s philanthropic focus of youth arts education.”
While Columbus’s gain is North Texas’ loss, we were all fortunate to have this consummate professional as a part of our community.
Kevin made such a huge impact on so many in North Texas, and in such a short time. We’re losing a great friend, incredible citizen and consumate philanthropist. Good Bye, Kevin, Best wishes. Bev