ASHLAND — The Paramount Arts Center means a lot to Ashland native Christy Reaves and she wants it to mean a lot to everyone else.

“I want people who don't know what the Paramount has to offer — not just the shows — I want them to have the same feeling I have when they walk in: the beautiful theater, the smell of the popcorn, seeing friends. It’s more than just a show. It’s an experience. I don’t want anyone to miss it.”

But taking a job as director of development at the Paramount was not in her plans.

“I wanted to get as far away from Ashland as I could,” she recalled, noting she received a degree in Russian studies from the University of Kentucky with plans to travel the world.

But her plans changed. She married and had children and came back to Ashland, where she became involved with many volunteer activities, including co-founding CASA and serving for nine years as a child advocate as well as on various boards that deal with children's issues.

Reaves also worked at helping the Paramount as a volunteer in various capacities.

The seed was planted when she was a child.

“My parents helped save the Paramount in the 1970s,” she said. “They've been associated with it my whole life. That really tugs at my heart.”

Reaves has been a member of the Paramount Women's Association, through which she was involved with C hiliFest, the Spring Gala and the Festival of Trees. “I like the set up and the teardown,” she said of the events she's helped with. “If they need something, I love being there, but there's plenty I haven't done.”

The Festival of Trees, which now is the Festival of Trees and Trains, must have had a special draw for her. She became the chairman of the annual holiday event in 2005 and retained that title through 2007, the year that trains were added to the offerings.

Her final year as chairman, she calculated that she'd put in 1,100 hours of work. But she was in need of a full-time job, and the festival became a project she couldn't spare that much time for.

“I was really blessed that this job was available,” she said.

As director of development, Reaves' jobs, she said, is to “make everyone happy.”

Specifically, Reaves works on obtaining sponsorships for programs and events at the theater and sells program ads as well as works on the endowment campaign.

For potential sponsors and advertisers who aren't so familiar with the Paramount, she encourages them to get to know the theater and see what is offered there.

“I make people happy and make them want to come back,” she said. “I like to find ways to give without asking for anything in return.”

She also acts as a hostess at events and gives tours to visitors and groups who come to the Paramount, sharing her knowledge of the landmark.

“The history of the Paramount is very important to me because it's part of my history, too,” she said.

Troubleshooting and fixing problems can be part of her agenda for a day, too. She pointed out that if a delivery for the Festival of Trees and Trains is mixed up, she straightens it out.

She continues to think fondly for her volunteer work for the Paramount, viewing it as a good training ground for her current job, and appreciates what volunteers contribute. “It was a gift to me to be allowed to be a volunteer.

“This place belongs to the community,” she said. “It's not for the board of directors or the staff. It's for the community.

“The reason everyone is here is all the millions of volunteer hours.”

LEE WARD can be reached at lward@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2661.