Cynthia Ham has had an impressive career spanning decades and industries. Her various jobs have shaped her and her knowledge of Memphis. “As the city found its identity over the last 40 years, I found my true calling.”
Her journey began after graduating from what was then Memphis State University with a degree in journalism. In 1977, she went to Nashville to work at Opryland and the Grand Ole Opry, and returned to Memphis three years later to work as Mud Island’s first marketing director. In 2024, Cynthia has been involved in the revitalization of Beale Street, taken a sabbatical in Mexico, worked in advertising and the nonprofit sector, retired, and bought a business. Meet the new owner of Palladio and our newest FACE of Memphis: Cynthia Ham!
Tell us more about the jobs you’ve had here in Memphis.
Four years after my job at Mud Island, I became the first marketing director for the historic Beale Street district when only two restaurants and bars were open. I loved hearing blues on the street again as the four blocks came back to life for the first time since Beale’s heyday in the ’30s and ’40s.
At 32, I needed a break and some time away from Memphis to think. So I set off with a friend and traveled the US, ending up in Mexico for the last leg. After eight months of living from day to day, staying in cheap motels, camping with cowboys and always looking for a new adventure, we were nearly broke. It was time to give up the wanderlust, go home and plan our next steps.
That trip made me realize my love for Memphis despite all the challenges and I resolved to “stay.” Just as I was reconnecting with people, I ended up becoming the Executive Director of the Memphis in May International Festival, where I spent 10 remarkable years leading a major celebration showcasing the culture of Memphis and other countries around the world. It was also a crash course in nonprofit management and fundraising.
Next, I was lured by the largest marketing agency in Memphis, Archer Malmo, and was thrilled to become one of the owners. After 15 years of running the PR department and being on call for clients, I needed something new and more meaningful. I joined the nonprofit organization BRIDGES as President and CEO.
Your career has spanned marketing, sales, design and nonprofit management. What lessons have you learned along the way?
- I don’t have to be right.
- I believe in the power of optimism in the face of challenges.
- The more I listen to different opinions, the more I learn.
What attracted you to the nonprofit world of BRIDGES?
I was looking for something more meaningful and stimulating. Thanks to my experience at Memphis in May, I was familiar with running a nonprofit and serving on a board of directors. Although I had no experience in youth development, I liked the idea of diverse youth putting aside their racial, economic and social differences and working together for the benefit of all.
The schools are almost as segregated as they were when I was in high school, and there are few opportunities for youth to think deeply together about the challenges facing Memphis. The mission appealed to me, but it was the youth themselves – and their views on how to make Memphis better – that made me wiser and more aware as I wrapped up my career at traditional retirement age.
And what fascinated you about Palladio after you left BRIDGES?
When I left BRIDGES, I worked as an interior designer for homes and offices in Memphis and across the country. I landed a great gig to conceptualize and design an urban grocery store in Downtown Memphis, which became South Point Grocery. I also worked behind the scenes as an art director for an HGTV pilot, leveraging my design skills and everything I’d learned about relationships along the way.
When I learned of the opportunity to acquire Palladio, I immediately imagined how it could be transformed into something Memphis had never seen before. It got my creativity flowing and reminded me that my love of design, my decades of experience in management, marketing and finance – as well as my knowledge of Memphis – were a strong foundation for owning Palladio.
What is your vision for Palladio?
I want to build on Palladio’s decades of antiques, architectural finds and garden offerings and add a charming, surprising and eclectic mix of furniture and decor for the home and garden. I want our customers to feel enlivened by a showroom unlike any other in the region. I hope customers are inspired to express themselves in a well-designed and comfortable home.
We also aspire to become a design hub with sources for custom upholstery, rugs, wallpaper, art and more. Memphis is a creative community of fiercely independent people and we want Palladio to reflect that vibe!
What do you find most fulfilling about your new job?
I am honored by how well our staff has embraced and supported my vision. The redesign of our large showroom at the corner of Cox and Central is incredibly satisfying, especially when we hear the gasps of our guests as they walk through the door.
Who or what inspires you most at the moment?
I spend a lot of time developing holiday concepts for the Palladio, ordering gifts and decorations, and recruiting quality vendors for our holiday open house.
Toggle navigation: When you have visitors in Memphis, where do you take them?
The National Civil Rights Museum, the Rock ‘n Soul Museum, STAX/Soulsville and of course Graceland.
What is your best advice?
Keep your ego under control and listen more than you talk.
What three things can you not live without, besides faith, family and friends?
A beautiful interior to relax in, loose linen dresses and a cute dog like Minnie.
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Gaye Swan
