Tim Hopkins, CAE

A true innovator at heart, Tim excels at helping associations address complexities with creative, human-centered approaches that maximize their potential.

As a managing director on McKinley’s Organizational Excellence team, Tim partners with associations to support their challenges and opportunities related to strategy, strategy implementation, and other areas focused on people and structures: governance and leadership, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and organizational effectiveness.

Tim joined McKinley in early 2020 under unique circumstances. One month after he started, the office closed due to COVID-19, and he continued his official onboarding from home. This unexpected turn gave us the opportunity to see first-hand two of Tim’s greatest strengths: adaptability and the ability to build connections under any circumstance.

Tim has 20 years of experience leading complex initiatives that transform mission-driven organizations. He is a highly skilled strategist, focusing on culture, change management, inclusiveness and world-class user experiences. His accomplishments include supporting and enabling organizational efficiencies, revenue growth and member engagement. 

Prior to joining the McKinley team, Tim was director of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Digital Center, a centralized digital strategy hub that created and executed digital strategy across the organization. In this role… 

Diversity Executive Leadership Program (iDELP). The program aimed to foster diversity and inclusion across the Fire-EMS service, as well as IAFC’s national and association leadership. Tim is passionate about giving a voice to underrepresented leaders and celebrating the strengths of every individual. In fact, he believes that this dynamic distinguishes good from great organizations.

Tim is highly engaged in the association community. He is the Chair of the ASAE Diversity + Inclusion Committee (2023-2025). He also served on the ASAE Technology Professionals Advisory Council and several conference proposal review boards. He is a sought-after thought leader and facilitator at national and local events.

Tim has a bachelor’s degree in Information Science from Christopher Newport University. In 2021, he earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation, the highest professional credential in the association industry. Outside the office, you can find him playing with his two kids, watching sports and cheering on the Liverpool Football Club, or traveling the globe. Some of his favorite places include Sarajevo, Bosnia; Cape Town, South Africa; and Barcelona, Spain.

Read Tim's latest posts on the McKinley Insights Blog

Maintaining motivation and persistence in DEIAB work
How Do You Leverage Volunteers in the Product Development Process?
Driving Strategic Plans Forward with OKRs