Katie Nace

About Katie Nace

As a dynamic leader with over 25 years of experience at the American Red Cross, I\'ve dedicated my career to harnessing the power of technology and human potential to amplify our humanitarian mission. In my current role as Director of Development Operations, I lead a high-performance team, ensuring the integrity and efficiency of our gift management systems that process millions of donor transactions annually.My journey at the Red Cross has been one of continuous growth and innovation. From my early days as a Collections Specialist to my pivotal roles in Biomedical Services IT, where I earned the BioArch Gold-Level Award for modernizing critical blood collection and manufacturing applications, I\'ve consistently pushed the boundaries of what\'s possible in non-profit technology. My transition to Development Operations has allowed me to apply this tech-savvy mindset to maximize the impact of every donor\'s generosity.I thrive at the intersection of business, data, and technology. With an MBA focused on Organizational Leadership, I\'ve mastered the art of translating complex technical concepts into compelling narratives that align senior executives, IT teams, and frontline staff around common goals. Whether it\'s spearheading the transformative critical Donations File Intake Process initiative or supporting the holistic software governance frameworks for our fundraising systems, I believe in the power of data-driven strategies to fuel our mission.But technology is just a tool. What truly drives me is the relentless pursuit of excellence in service. I\'m passionate about nurturing talent, fostering a culture of continuous learning, and building cross-functional synergies that turn ideas into life-saving realities. From fast-tracking solutions during public health crises to being recognized as an \"Top Engage! and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leader\" for employee development and engagement, I\'ve seen firsthand how investing in our people amplifies our impact.As we navigate an increasingly digital world, the fusion of compassionate mission and cutting-edge technology will define the future of humanitarian aid. I\'m committed to leading this charge at the American Red Cross, ensuring that our data quality, operational efficiencies, and team excellence translate into more lives saved, more communities rebuilt, and more hope restored worldwide.Let\'s connect to discuss how we can leverage technology, talent, and strategic leadership to make a meaningful difference in the world.

Experience

1. Director of Development Operations

   American Red Cross

   Jun 2021 — Present

   As the Director of Development Operations, I led a high-performance team, ensuring seamless operation of critical gift management systems. I cultivated a culture of excellence through targeted leadership, innovative training programs, personalized mentoring, and data-driven performance monitoring. This fostered both individual growth and collective team efficacy. I spearheaded the Fundraising Development Operations Support team, shaping future leaders and acting as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for transformative fundraising system, processes, and policy initiatives. My role involved engineering cross-functional synergies among IT, business stakeholders, data owners, and external partners, creating bespoke operational frameworks for mission-critical ventures like the Gift Management System. I was consistently recognized as an \"Engage! Top Leader\" for excellence in employee engagement and professional development. Additionally, I developed and enforced rigorous software compliance protocols, ensuring adherence to industry standards and peak system performance. Collaborating across business lines, I enhanced data quality and streamlined methodologies, boosting operational efficiency. I played a key role in the design, development, testing, and implementation of the Gift Management System, managing over annual gift upload files with 4 million+ transactions.

Education

• University of Phoenix

  Associate's degree, Information Technology

• Ashford University

  Master of Business Administration (MBA), Organizational Leadership

  2012 — 2014

• Ashford University

  Bachelor's degree, Information Systems