CHRISTY WATTS
Indianapolis,IN
Summary
Strategic partnership and business development executive with more than 20 years of experience leading organizational growth initiatives within higher education, healthcare, and corporate partnership environments. Proven success developing market expansion strategies, cultivating executive-level relationships, leading high-performing teams, and creating scalable partnership models that drive enrollment growth and institutional success. Recognized for building long-term relationships with healthcare systems, employers, community colleges, and workforce partners while consistently exceeding performance goals. Collaborative leader experienced partnering with executive leadership, enrollment, marketing, academic affairs, and operations to align strategic initiatives with institutional priorities. Experienced leveraging Salesforce, Power BI, CRM analytics, and AI-powered technologies to improve market research, partnership development, prospect identification, strategic planning, and organizational performance. Approach partnerships as mutually beneficial relationships that serve students, employers, and communities.
Overview
1
1
Certification
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Regional Executive Director – Healthcare
Risepoint (formerly Academic Partnerships)
10.2022 - Current
- Lead regional business development and strategic partnership initiatives supporting online healthcare programs for university partners. Develop growth strategies that expand employer engagement, increase brand awareness, and strengthen enrollment pipelines across healthcare markets.
- Selected Accomplishments
- Develop and execute regional partnership growth strategies that create sustainable enrollment pipelines across Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan.
- Build executive-level relationships with hospital systems, healthcare organizations, employers, community colleges, and workforce partners to support long-term organizational growth.
- Collaborate with university leadership, enrollment, marketing, academic partners, and operational teams to align partnership initiatives with institutional priorities.
- Utilize Salesforce, Power BI, CRM reporting, market intelligence, and AI-powered technologies to improve prospect identification, forecasting, and partnership effectiveness.
- Analyze market trends, employer needs, competitive landscapes, and enrollment performance to identify emerging opportunities and prioritize strategic markets.
- Design targeted communication and engagement strategies that increase qualified lead generation and improve conversion performance.
- Represent university partners at executive meetings, healthcare organizations, conferences, and industry events throughout the region.
- Consistently exceed established performance goals for lead generation, applications, and enrollments.
Senior Executive Director / Executive Director
Risepoint (formerly Academic Partnerships)
06.2017 - 10.2022
- Provided strategic leadership for healthcare partnership development while mentoring field marketing professionals and driving business development initiatives supporting university enrollment growth.
- Leadership & Organizational Development
- Led onboarding, coaching, mentoring, and professional development for Field Marketing Representatives across multiple university partnerships.
- Guided territory planning, partnership development strategies, and market expansion initiatives.
- Established accountability measures through KPI analysis, performance coaching, and strategic business reviews.
- Conducted interviews, hiring, onboarding, and mentoring for new team members.
- Served as a subject matter expert in partnership development, territory strategy, sales effectiveness, and relationship management.
- Delivered training programs focused on business development, executive communication, event strategy, and partnership engagement.
- Strategic Business Development
- Consistently achieved annual "Trifecta" performance goals for leads, applications, and enrollments.
- Developed strategic partnerships with healthcare employers, hospital systems, and community colleges that expanded enrollment opportunities.
- Created integrated communication and outreach strategies supporting long-term employer engagement.
- Planned and executed regional recruitment initiatives, employer events, conferences, and educational outreach programs.
- Collaborated across marketing, enrollment, and academic teams to improve recruitment effectiveness and partner satisfaction.
- Selected by executive leadership to participate in the Leadership Acceleration Program.
Outside Sales Representative
Nova Medical Centers
Indianapolis, Indiana
01.2015 - 06.2017
- Helped launch a new occupational health clinic through strategic business development initiatives.
- Built executive relationships with employers throughout Central Indiana to expand corporate healthcare partnerships.
- Generated new business through consultative sales, contract negotiations, and executive presentations.
- Maintained a robust prospect pipeline while consistently exceeding activity expectations.
- Served as a trusted advisor to employer partners regarding occupational health solutions.
Corporate Director of Marketing
Harrison College
Indianapolis, Indiana
03.1998 - 12.2011
- Directed statewide corporate marketing strategy supporting twelve campuses while leading employer engagement, lead generation, and strategic growth initiatives.
- Leadership & Strategic Impact
- Proposed, designed, and launched the Corporate Marketing Department supporting twelve statewide campuses.
- Recruited, hired, developed, and managed an eleven-member marketing and business development team.
- Designed statewide sales funnel and lead management strategies supporting enrollment objectives.
- Directed employer partnership initiatives aligned with executive leadership priorities.
- Managed agency relationships, advertising strategy, RFP development, and budget oversight.
- Led cross-functional collaboration between admissions, marketing, executive leadership, and external partners.
- Expanded employer relationships that increased organizational visibility and enrollment opportunities.
Education
Master of Business Administration -
University of Southern Indiana
05-2027
Bachelor of Science - Marketing
Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis
Bachelor of Science - Distribution Management
Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis
Associate of Science - Psychology
Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis
Skills
- Strategic Partnership Development
- Business Development & Growth Strategy
- Executive Relationship Management
- Market Expansion Strategy
- Partnership Pipeline Development
- Workforce Development Partnerships
- Corporate & Employer Partnerships
- Higher Education Partnerships
- Team Leadership & Coaching
- Organizational Development
- Cross-Functional Leadership
- Lead Generation Strategy
- Strategic Planning & Execution
- Market Intelligence & Competitive Analysis
- Performance Management
- Executive Communications
- Budget Management
- CRM & Sales Platforms
- Salesforce CRM
- CRM Pipeline Management
- Lead Lifecycle Management
- Sales Forecasting
- Business Intelligence & Analytics
- Microsoft Power BI
- Tableau
- CRM Analytics
- KPI Reporting
- Performance Dashboards
- Market & Trend Analysis
- Artificial Intelligence
- ChatGPT
- Microsoft Copilot
- AI-assisted market research
- Prospect identification
- Communication development
- Workflow optimization
- Strategic planning
- Data analysis
- Microsoft 365
- Excel
- PowerPoint
- Word
- Outlook
- Teams
- SharePoint
- OneDrive
Certification
- Leadership Acceleration Program – Risepoint
- Richardson Sales Training
- High Performance Teams – Mike Figliuolo
- Leadership Foundations
- Executive Presence
- Listening to Your Customers
- Own Your Voice
- Writing Effective Business Communications
- Confronting Bias – Thriving Across Our Differences
- The Pacific Institute Leadership Program (Facilitator)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- More than 20 years of progressive leadership in higher education, healthcare partnerships, business development, and strategic relationship management.
- Consistently exceeded annual lead, application, and enrollment goals while serving as Executive Director and Senior Executive Director.
- Selected to participate in Risepoint's Leadership Acceleration Program based on leadership potential and organizational impact.
- Developed and expanded strategic partnerships with healthcare systems, community colleges, employers, and professional organizations across multiple states.
- Led hiring, onboarding, coaching, mentoring, and professional development for field marketing professionals.
- Designed strategic communication and outreach initiatives that strengthened employer partnerships and expanded enrollment pipelines.
- Experienced collaborating with executive leadership to develop organizational growth strategies, improve operational effectiveness, and strengthen partnership performance.
Timeline
Regional Executive Director – Healthcare
Risepoint (formerly Academic Partnerships)
10.2022 - Current
Senior Executive Director / Executive Director
Risepoint (formerly Academic Partnerships)
06.2017 - 10.2022
Outside Sales Representative
Nova Medical Centers
01.2015 - 06.2017
Corporate Director of Marketing
Harrison College
03.1998 - 12.2011
Associate of Science - Psychology
Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis
Bachelor of Science - Distribution Management
Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis
Bachelor of Science - Marketing
Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis
Master of Business Administration -
University of Southern Indiana