Kali Bird

About Kali Bird

I am a dynamic executive driving strategy, systems, and growth. My key skill is…

Experience

1. Deputy Executive Director

   Catskill Center

   Nov 2015 — Present · Arkville, NY, US

   I lead the financial, operational, HR, and IT functions for a growing environmental nonprofit, filling the roles of COO & CFO — steering the organization through 350% growth in budget and complexity. I focus on building smart, scalable systems, empowering people with tools and clarity, and ensuring long-term sustainability.Overhauled financial infrastructure: consolidated 3 QuickBooks accounts into 1 streamlined system, cut the chart of accounts in half, and introduced effective fund accounting — significantly improving speed, accuracy, and usefulness of financial reporting.Built and led multi-year budgets for foundation and government grants/contracts totaling $16M+, ensuring fiscal compliance, funder trust, and long-term sustainability.Transformed board governance by partnering with legal counsel to shift from membership to board-led structure, modernize bylaws for NYS compliance, establish clear committee charters, and institutionalize annual fiduciary and conflict-of-interest training.Created the organization’s first compensation philosophy and pay benchmarks, increasing equity, transparency, and competitiveness.Directed recruitment, onboarding, management, and offboarding for over 60 team members.Rewrote and implemented legal review for the entire personnel policy and corporate handbook — boosting morale, legal clarity, and consistency across the organization.

Education

• SUNY New Paltz

  Master of Business Administration - MBA

• Oklahoma Baptist University

  Bachelor of Science (BS), Biology

  2004 — 2008

• Escuela de Idiomas

  Spanish language

  2004

• Michigan State University

  Master of Science (MS), Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, w/ specialization in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, & Behavior

  2008 — 2012