As Seen On : Kassandra Gove
In the spirit of transparency, this post is not impartial. It is very much partial, very enthusiastically biased.
I first rented my mill studio on Water Street in Amesbury 7 years ago and then I moved to the city a year later. It takes me about 4 and a half minutes to walk from my home down the hill, through the Upper Millyard and the city center to the Artist Muse Studio on Water Street. In that walk, I usually smile, nod, say hello to so many people that I have come to know during my time living + working here, serving coffee + designing jewelry here, running + walking + hiking here, supporting + being so very supported here. One of those people is Amesbury Mayor Kassandra Gove.
Kassandra and I came to know each other while she was the head of the Amesbury Chamber of Commerce and I was a barista next door at the Market Square Bakehouse . She has been a champion of mine from the beginning, kind and gracious with each coffee served, and ever-supportive of my new jewelry business that I was launching in town: profiling me as a Success Story on the front page of the Chamber’s website, sharing my stationery with her clients during her days as a realtor, selecting one of my early encaustic paintings during Amesbury Open Studios for her own home, and numerous earrings to accessorize for her days at City Hall. Every time I see her at an event in Amesbury, and she is sporting the Sanctum or Mina Hoops, I get a little heart-burst of gratitude.
Mayor Gove took office in January of 2020. I went to her inauguration and blinked back tears of hope, of joy, of pride for the smart, tireless, gutsy, articulate, passionate woman that we had chosen. I am so very grateful for all that she has done for the city, for me personally, for my business, and for taking the time to be interviewed and profiled for this edition of As Seen On.
Amy
[interview below by kayla doyle]
Kassandra, can you tell us a bit about your path to becoming the Mayor of Amesbury? Where have you lived, worked, what have been your steps and stops along the way?
I grew up in Amesbury but left for college and graduate school. I studied in the south (Jacksonville University- Florida and USC-South Carolina) and studied abroad in Sydney Australia, and then returned to Amesbury. My professional career began in higher education administration, specifically alumni and donor relations. Through work at Clark University, Boston University, the Amesbury Chamber of Commerce, and Stone Ridge Properties I honed my skills in community building, constituent relations, communications and marketing. I started working when I was young and have always had more than one job until I became Mayor. I’ve done everything from a paper route, to retail, to working at a small airport and even marshaled in a plane once.
Mayor Gove wearing the Sanctum Hoops in sterling + brass
You have a taste for embarking on physical challenges - cold water swimming in the winter and climbing all of the 4000 footers in NH. What do these challenges teach you and and how do these lessons come through in other areas of your life?
I do! It started with a Susan G Komen 3 Day when I walked 60 miles. The whole experience taught me to be grateful for my abilities and to use them- especially on behalf of others when I can. Then I started running half marathons which led to a marathon and a few Reach the Beach races (200 miles in 24 hours with a relay team). I took a few years off after that and I missed having a challenge to keep me moving and make my brain work in a way it doesn’t at home or at the office. That’s when I started the 48-4,000 footers. Every mile, every hike, every cold-water dip, has turned into a reminder that whatever I hype something up to be in my mind as I prepare is never as bad as I think it will be. It’s a great way to get outside of my comfort zone. Maybe this is training in some way for handling difficult situations as Mayor and allows me to handle them head on and with grace.
Speaking of challenges: What has been one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your career?
The answer to this might forever be jumping into crisis leadership during a global pandemic.
What has surprised you about your role as Mayor?
I studied leadership and have held many leadership roles. Until being the Mayor I don’t think I’d given as much thought to the transient nature of the role. The City has staff who have worked here for decades. They know they could get a new boss every 2 years. That dynamic is really interesting, especially from my shoes. Their perspective and professional expertise mean so much to our future but the residents are so much more invested in the Mayor. The additional challenge of new leadership bringing in new ideas and sometimes totally abandoning others is so detrimental to progress and can waste time and money. It’s an interesting organizational structure for someone coming from more of a business and non profit background where owners and boards help maintain consistency when staff turns over.
Amesbury has gone through many changes in your lifetime. What do you hope never changes about this special city?
I’ve led many conversations about what makes Amesbury special and the people here always rise to the top. I hope that the community and family feel never changes. We’re a community built on hard work, a place where restaurant owners visit your table and take a turn in the kitchen, neighbors shovel you out, and help with hospital bills. A lot of new people are moving to Amesbury but we have a good mix with those who go back generations. I hope that history and sense of community sticks around.
Where or how do you find personal peace or enjoyment? Are you ever able to “shut off” or set boundaries around your responsibilities as Mayor?
When the photo of me in my pajamas at 1am painting the crosswalk hit the Amesbury Facebook page I realized there were officially no more boundaries. Haha!
Cliche for a politician but I like golfing and it’s easy to ‘shut off’ on the course because you really can’t use your phone and people can’t usually find you. I also like to go for walks and try to fit them in at lunch when I can.
Otherwise, I really love everything I get to do as mayor and would do it in my daily life otherwise. All of the fairs, festivals, games, events, etc. are just part of my every day.
What inspires you? What do you look for when you are shopping? How does your style reflect your personality?
I need to be able to get ready fast and transition between all kinds of engagements throughout the day. So, I look for good staples. I try to keep things simple, classic, approachable and flexible. I can’t be worried about being uncomfortable… I could be with a constituent or camera at any moment. Kate Middleton is my fashion inspiration!
Mayor Gove in the Mina Hoops, photo by Kate Donovan
How did you and Amy first connect?
I’m not sure I remember! It might have found her first on an Open Studio Tour years ago. I think that’s it.
[amy here : please see intro}
What piece of Amy’s can you be seen wearing?
I own the Mina Hoops, and the Sanctum Hoops in brass and sterling, and the Cora Threaders in sterling silver. I wear my Sanctum Hoops multiple times a week. I dress them up and down. They go with everything! They have just enough shine but offer texture and feel earthy too.
What emotions or feelings do you experience when wearing your favorite AVE pieces?
Confidence. I feel polished when I have my AVE pieces on. Like they’re the perfect finishing touch. For years I’ve said I’m not good at accessorizing, I just didn’t feel like my style was complete. My hoops take my basics to another level and I feel like I have what I need for any outfit.
Thank you so much for reading our latest installment of As Seen On, and please be sure to check out kassandragove.com to learn more about our Mayor of Amesbury and don’t forget to vote on November 2nd!
ASO readers, please enjoy 20% off Kassandra’s favorite AVE styles, the Mina Hoops , the Cora Threaders, and the Sanctum Hoops. Discount is automatically taken at checkout.
If you or someone you know wears Amy’s pieces and is interested in being featured in our “Ode to the Wearers", please reach out to us. We’d love to learn more about you and what you wear.