As a practice director on the on the Strategy and Innovation team, Kristi applies a creative and collaborative approach to help clients solve their most unique challenges. Her expertise spans strategic leadership, DEI strategy, member and volunteer engagement, healthcare management, research-driven decision making, and workforce development.
Kristi has a lifelong passion for getting to know the people behind the purpose and helping associations maximize their impact. She's a strategic association leader with almost 30 years of experience transforming member engagement, enhancing organizational effectiveness, and expanding industry impact through innovative approaches and deep sector expertise.
Having worked for both professional and trade associations, she brings a wide lens to her projects. During her time at McKinley, she's worked with more than 60 associations, including AcademyHealth, American Association of Colleges of Nursing, American College of Cardiology, American Counseling Association, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, American Institute of Architects, ASAE, Endocrine Society, Entertainment Software Association, IEEE, and the Institute of Food Technologists.
Kristi is an accomplished thought leader in the association community, regularly speaking at industry events and contributing to leading publications. Her insights have appeared in ASAE webinars, Associations Now, Journal of Association Leadership and ASAE's Core Competencies in Association Professional Development.
She was the project lead for McKinley's partnership with ASAE to build the Association Insights Center - a research hub for association CEOs to access timely, actionable research and market-based insights on the most central topics impacting association management today. The eight resulting CEO guides are available on ASAE's website and have become essential resources for association executives navigating complex challenges.
She is a Certified Association Executive and has served as a facilitator for the CAE Immersion Program. In addition to her longstanding thought leadership on diversity, community, the healthcare sector and workforce challenges, Kristi has served in volunteer roles for ASAE's Diversity and Professional Development Committees, as an Annual Meeting proposal reviewer, and as a former leader of the Emerging Leaders community.
Kristi has a master's degree in organization development and strategic human resources from Johns Hopkins University and undergraduate degrees in business administration and healthcare management from Towson University. She combines her academic background with practical experience to deliver innovative solutions that drive measurable results for associations looking to enhance their impact and better serve their members.
Read Kristi's latest articles and blogs
Building Community: Your Association’s Strategic Advantage (ASAE)
Challenges and Keys to Successful Association Partnerships (ASAE)
Leading Through Complexity: A CEO's Guide to High-Stakes Conversations (McKinley Advisors)
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