Elizabeth Hennen McKinney, Ed.S.

Senior Project Director

From early years of service to my country, the spark of selfless service took root and my experiences while pursuing my bachelors and graduate degrees only fueled my desire to enhance the lives of others. My work as a Psychologist in several school districts across the country further highlighted my penchant for passionately understanding the human experience which further defined my purpose in life.

Along my journey, I have devoted myself to mentoring and empowering others through my involvement with the Junior League, which is committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women, and to improving the community through effective action and leadership. Over a decade of active involvement, I have had the pleasure of serving in various roles such as project chair, co-chair, and as a general volunteer on a multitude of yearly projects, as well as being a proponent of promoting healthy lifestyles as a small-business owner. These collective experiences have helped me develop principles for myself, my family, my team, and the people that we serve; principles that are deeply rooted in hard work, dedication, perseverance, and integrity.

The more endeavors I undertake, the more I learn about my life’s purpose, my values, and what truly brings joy to my soul. I believe the more aligned my thoughts and beliefs are to my purpose and passion, the easier it becomes to make decisions, set and achieve goals, and inspire others to do more than they thought they could. This notion has been helpful to remember as our team propels initiatives while acknowledging the economic achievements in the communities we serve. I am proud of my involvement with the Convergent team as it allows my personal experiences and strengths to be underscored in the work we do as a company.

This quote seems to epitomize the spirit of my work in the nonprofit field:

“One can’t lead others unless you have a strong sense of who you are & what you stand for.”

Elizabeth has been helping communities, organizations, businesses, and individuals achieve their strategic goals for more than 25 years. She has a unique ability to find common ground among seemingly incompatible groups, serve as a catalyst for change, and establish synergy where none previously existed.  Her distinct background and vast array of experience has made Elizabeth a much sought after strategic consultant. She is a proven Fundraiser, Entrepreneur, Psychologist, and U.S. Army Veteran.

Her career began as a soldier in the US Army’s 1st Cavalry Division in Ft. Hood Texas, where she spent four years working as a Behavioral Science Specialist, practicing alongside military psychiatrists and psychologists.  After earning both her Undergraduate and Graduate degrees as a single mother of two, she parlayed her military experience into a career as a School Psychologist, helping direct troubled youth on a path that would lead to gainful employment. Through this sensitive but difficult work she earned the respect and admiration of school administrators, law enforcement, state attorneys, agency directors, and most importantly, the students, teachers, and parents she worked alongside.

In 2013, her entrepreneurial and ambitious spirit led her to start her second business in the professional consulting field, focusing on economic and community development. Elizabeth uses her previous experience with youth to shape strategic plans for communities interested in workforce development and talent attraction.  It didn’t take long for others to take notice, including Kentucky Governor Matt Bevins, who presented her with the state’s highest civilian honor, the Kentucky Colonel Award.

She credits her career success to her strong family values, midwestern work ethic, and her time in the military,  which  taught  her  discipline,  strategy  and  persistence;  and ultimately served as the basis for giving her unique insights into the psychology of investing for community outcomes.

Accomplishments

• Raised $5.5 million for Elevate Rapid City, a new, private-sector led EDO in Rapid City, SD.
• Raised $3.6 million for the Roanoke Regional Partnership, a five-county EDO in Roanoke, VA.
• Raised $3.4 million for KYNDLE, a four-county EDO in Henderson, KY.
• Chairman of Project WARM (Women Assisting Recovering Mothers) for the Junior League of Daytona Beach, FL.
• Committee Co-Chairman of the Homeless Assistance Center & Teen Outreach Program.
• Committee Chair – Junior League Strategic Plan Development.
• Ed.S. in School Psychology from the University of Northern Colorado and BA in Honors Psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Lawrence and Elizabeth McKinney were an excellent match for our region and its business community. Their depth of experience in economic development and fundraising campaigns not only allowed us to see results quickly but they provided guidance and support that will have long-term benefits to our organization. They were organized and strategic in structuring and implementing the campaign and their professionalism was the secret sauce that helped open doors and close deals. I strongly recommend them as fundraising professionals and ambassadors for the organization they represent.

Beth Doughty, Executive Director
Roanoke Regional Partnership, VA

The McKinneys not only exceed expectations, they blast through them and work tirelessly to bring the nonprofit organizations they work for to new and greater heights not imagined possible.

Brad Schneider, Past CEO
KYNDLE, KY