Kristen brings more than two decades of experience in the nonprofit sector, with a strong focus on grant compliance, project management and fiscal oversight. She has more than 15 years of experience in evaluation, with expertise in data collection, assessment design, data visualization and telling compelling stories through data. In recent years, she has developed a strong passion for customer-first measurement—amplifying member voices and ensuring their lived experiences shape improvements and drive meaningful change.
At Face It TOGETHER, Kristen oversees our evaluation strategy, managing data collection, analysis and the development of innovative tools that empower us to tell the story of our impact. She led the creation of our Knowledge Discovery Process, an integrated system that unites research, data science and quality improvement to enhance addiction wellness programs. Her work includes directing a Social Return on Investment study and leading validation efforts for outcomes-based instruments designed to measure real-life impact.
Her work is deeply informed by personal experience with addiction in her family. This fuels her dedication to challenging outdated systems and championing person-centered solutions. Kristen is one of the co-founders of our loved one (LO) program, a first-of-its-kind initiative designed specifically to support those affected by a loved one’s addiction. She played a lead role in designing the program's structure and developing a unique outcomes-based assessment tool that centers the experiences of loved ones in meaningful, measurable ways.
Inspired by her personal love of quilting, Kristen reimagines evaluation as an act of artistic science. By focusing on meaningful data points, she stitches them together with care and to reveal the beauty of impact through a data-focused story. She believes evaluation is not just about proving success, but also about honoring the lived experiences of those we serve and creating something meaningful and beautiful in the process.
Kristen holds a master’s degree in adult and higher education and a bachelor’s in English education from the University of South Dakota. She lives in Sioux Falls with her husband, Tim, and enjoys time with their grandson and all of their furry pets.