“Kathleen is an exceptional individual with many interests and great energy. She holds the utmost respect and admiration of her peers. She has unique leadership capabilities and is a strong and articulate speaker. She is respectful toward others, giving great value to their suggestions, ideas and experiences. Her critical, creative and strategic thinking has led to a number of important projects that have benefitted our community. She served on the Citizens’ BRAC Committee and worked to support local efforts to turn around the BRAC decision to close our 110th ANG base. She developed and implemented the citizen BRAC rally in Battle Creek, widely regarded as a major factor in the military decision to change their original decision to close the base. She was an effective advocate for Chamber members and the business community, offering testimony and written information on behalf of the Chamber to the City Commission.”
Diane Thompson
Battle Creek City Commissioner
“Through Kathleen’s leadership at the Chamber, we became colleagues and partners working together on a number of important initiatives to realign all of the major festivals in the community. She worked tirelessly and creatively to restructure the Chamber Foundation, with very few resources, to bring it to the forefront of the community by developing and implementing innovative and creative leadership and business development programs. Through Kathleen’s leadership, she ran a successful revenue enhancement campaign and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support the Chamber and its Foundation, during the most recent recession, ensuring that the Chamber remains a strong and resilient institution during this difficult economic period. She has strong communication ability, organization, attention to details and business acumen.”
Brenda L. Hunt
President and CEO, Battle Creek Community Foundation
“Kathleen is creative, energetic, and conscientious and customer focused. She is very knowledgeable of most aspects of government, policy, businesses, membership organizations and non profits. She has excellent verbal and written communication skills. Under her leadership the Chamber received our 3 star accreditation and 5 star accreditation from the U.S. Chamber; developed and implemented the Battle Creek Self Employment Program, a successful and nationally recognized program to support micro enterprise development and poverty reduction; developed and implemented the Battle Creek Area Leadership Challenge, a creative program focusing on intensive, year long leadership training and community change; developed and implemented the Chamber’s Legislative priorities, a comprehensive legislative platform on economic, taxation, workforce, and economic development issues; and received numerous national awards for our TV programs, communications and marketing materials.”
Nelson Karre
Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Legal Counsel and Past Board Chair
“As a former board member of the Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce and current board member of the Battle Creek Chamber Foundation, I worked closely with Kathleen on many board initiatives and found her to be creative, forward thinking and attuned to the local business community. Under her leadership, the Chamber was restructured enhancing its presence and visibility in the community, and became a strong supporter for businesses both large and small with an active role in achieving tax abatements, candidate endorsements and on living wage policies. Through these actions, many businesses were able to remain stable during challenging economic times. Her strongest attribute is her ability to communicate on all levels to various stakeholders. She was a strong advocate and worked with many community organizations to strategize and develop sustainable programs. Her ability to collaborate and develop partnerships demonstrates her strong communication style.”
Barb Ley
Community Volunteer
“I have known Kathleen for over 30 years. I worked directly with her in numerous capacities at the highest levels of the MEDC. She was selected to worked directly with me to manage and coordinate: MEDC Executive Committee and Corporate board packets and meetings, and related follow up, MEDC’s annual strategy and program for partner and corporate relations and the CEO’s outreach to partners, and special projects on behalf of the CEO, including partner surveys, corporation memberships, and development of the M-TEC and Governor’s Career Scholarship. In 1982, we were selected as part of a small team to develop parameters for the new $50 million per year, statewide Community Development Block Grant Program. Kathleen later managed that program for nearly 10 years, and led innovative economic policy and program development in public infrastructure finance, business loans, revolving loan funds, entrepreneurial training and development, and business incubator development. The experience and skills Kathleen has honed over her career will help any business or organization seeking to streamline its operations, resolve its challenges, and grow.”