Alex Keith

About Alex Keith

I support mission-driven and regulated organizations with part-time and fractional operations, compliance, and program management, bringing a background in chemistry, lab operations, and nonprofit leadership.I began my career grounded in chemistry and applied physiology, which shaped how I think: evidence first, safety always, and results that matter beyond theory. That foundation carried me into athletic and sports performance, where I learned to translate complex biological, mechanical, and psychological systems into practical outcomes for real people.I later applied those same principles in regulated manufacturing, serving as a laboratory manager and extraction chemist in the cannabis industry. In that role, I oversaw compliance, quality control, and operations, protecting both staff and end users in a high-risk, rapidly evolving regulatory environment. My focus was not just productivity, but stability, safety, and integrity of process.To strengthen my ability to lead organizations holistically, I earned an MBA, bridging technical expertise with operations management, finance, and governance. This combination has been especially valuable in nonprofit contexts, where resources are constrained and decisions have direct human consequences. I’ve served as a board member and president, focusing on continuity, ethical stewardship, and systems that quietly but reliably support families and communities.In recent years, I’ve also taken on the role of stay-at-home father, a period that sharpened rather than paused my leadership. It reinforced daily practice in risk management, logistics, emotional regulation, and long-term planning — the same skills organizations rely on when they need experienced support without adding a full-time position.Across science, athletics, operations, nonprofit governance, and family systems, the through-line is consistent: I stabilize complex systems, protect people, and help organizations function with integrity under real-world constraints.Myers Briggs 16Introvert - 55% Sensing - 66% Feeling - 77% Perceiving - 55% Enneagram 9Type 2 - The SupporterType 6 - The QuestionerType 9 - The Mediator

Experience

1. Founding Board Member

   The Ark Foundation

   Apr 2024 — Present

   Founding board member of a nonprofit supporting families of children with rare and chronic medical conditions, with a focus on operational stability, governance, and long-term sustainability.Co-founded the organization and helped establish mission, governance structure, and operating principles.Contributed to board-level operations, including policies, compliance considerations, and risk awareness.Supported development of financial assistance processes and criteria to ensure fair, ethical, and consistent support for families.Helped translate lived experience into practical systems that reduce burden on families navigating complex medical and financial landscapes.Serve as a steady operational and strategic backstop for leadership in a resource-constrained, high-impact environment.Provide hands-on support with operations, planning, and coordination beyond traditional governance roles.

Education

• University of Redlands

  Bachelor of Science - BS, Chemistry

  2011 — 2014

• University of Redlands

  Master's degree, Business Administration and Management, General

  2015 — 2017