Erica Qualls-Battey and Kiplyn Primus
Recorded
June 27, 2023
Archived
June 27, 2023
43:41 minutes
0:00 / 0:00
Id:
atl004808
Description
Atlanta Business League colleagues Erica Qualls-Battey (58) and Kiplyn Primus (61) have a conversation about Erica's career with Marriott Hotels.Subject Log / Time Code
Kiplyn Primus says one of her first jobs was at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Washington, D.C.
Erica Qualls-Battey says she is from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She says she is the eldest of five children and was raised by a single mom. Erica remembers her mom moving the family to San Jose, California, for a better life.
Erica says she had four children by the time she was 27. She talks about starting to work for the Santa Clara Marriott as a PBX operator and making $7.25 an hour.
Erica talks about being raised in the Nation of Islam. She says her mother taught their family to be adaptable and to learn from new experiences.
Kiplyn asks Erica to talk about her mom's history. Erica says her mother was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She says her mother's family has roots in Waynesboro, Georgia.
Kiplyn asks Erica what it was like to be the oldest sister. Erica talks about the name-calling her youngest sister experienced and about the responsibility she felt toward helping her mom.
Erica remembers getting a part-time job at Mervyn's Department Store when she was fifteen years old. She says her sister Nicole did the same thing.
Erica remembers when her mom went to San Jose City College to become a dental hygienist. She says all the kids helped out to make the family work.
Erica talks about her own time attending San Jose City College.
Erica talks about meeting her husband. She talks about needing adult interaction after the birth of her fourth child.
Erica says going to work was her idea of doing something for herself. She remembers her stepfather telling her to stick with Marriott. She also recalls getting to meet Bill Marriott.
Kiplyn talks about Marriott promoting from within.
Erica talks about Marriott's relationship with Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.
Kiplyn asks Erica how she ended up at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis. Erica says she first gained experience as a Front Office Manager and General Manager for Marriott's Residence Inns.
Erica remembers calling her mom when she was offered the Marriott job in Atlanta, Georgia. She says the move felt like coming home.
Kiplyn remembers when Erica became the General Manager of the Marriott Marquis.
Erica says she has been General Manager for eighteen years and doesn't want to leave. She talks about being in a position to take care of the community and about Atlanta being a place for Black excellence.
Kiplyn asks why it was important to Erica for Marriott Hotels to be part of the Atlanta Business League.
Participants
- Erica Qualls-Battey
- Kiplyn Primus