Britta Mckenna Email & Phone Number

I am an innovative servant leader, dot connector, and community builder with a knack for nurturing new ideas and growing teams, programs, and organizations. My focus areas are building next-gen and intergenerational community projects, growing non-profits, wooing partnerships, and designing innovative programs in education, entrepreneurship, downtown revitalization, the encore years, technology, and the arts.Most recently, I helped IMSA design and open a prototype AI Center. Before founding Four Hawks, LLC, I assisted with the launch of two startups, Energetically and Blue Titan Ventures, and I served as Chief Innovation Officer at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, where I led the development of IN2 Steve and Jamie Chen Center for Innovation & Inquiry in 2017. IN2 won the Chicago Innovation Award "People's Choice" in 2017, strengthening IMSA's work to innovate learning for the future of work. Before IMSA, I led Batavia MainStreet as their Executive Director, turning around a failing organization into an 8x award-winning State program, earning Premier MainStreet designation. My current volunteer leadership includes serving as President for the Batavia Parks Foundation and the Fermilab Citizens Advisory Board. Past service highlights include serving as an elected official, leading the Batavia Park Board, and serving on the the boards of the Fox Valley Special Recreation Association (FVSRA) and the Batavia Chamber of Commerce (President). Previously at IMSA, I led the IMSA Energy Center and founded the IMSA Kids Institute, developing educational entrepreneurial programs with IMSA students and partners. The NIU faculty awarded me the 2010-11 "Model Public Administrator Award" after receiving a Master of Public Administration from the nationally-ranked Northern Illinois School of Public Administration. My skills include design thinking, fundraising, advanced computer and technology skills (including AI), strategic planning, creative productions, team building, project management, budgeting, coaching, developing partnerships, designing innovative third places, grant writing, and public relations.

Listed skills include Fundraising, Nonprofits, Leadership, Public Speaking, and 19 others.