Kenge Adams
Milwaukee,Wisconsin
Summary
Executive-level cultural strategist with leadership experience driving revenue-aligned programs and cross-sector partnerships across nonprofit, academic, and corporate organizations. Proven track record of building scalable cultural initiatives, securing funding, and translating collections and research into high-impact public experiences. Expert in aligning curatorial vision with institutional strategy, audience growth, and measurable outcomes. Specialized in African and diasporic art, digital humanities (3D/VR), and community-centered engagement.
Experienced with strategic planning, operational efficiency, and market analysis. Utilizes innovative approaches to drive business growth and enhance team collaboration. Track record of delivering results through effective leadership and adaptability to evolving business needs.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Founder & Executive Curator
Nkenge's Gallery
01.2024 - Current
- Founded and scaled a mission-driven cultural organization focused on African and diasporic art, positioning the gallery as a regional hub for exhibitions, education, and community engagement.
- Directed curatorial vision and execution for exhibitions featuring 20+ objects, including narrative development, interpretive strategy, and visitor experience design.
- Built strategic partnerships with universities, museums, and cultural institutions, including collaboration with the Milwaukee Public Museum and Northwestern University’s Material History Lab to digitize and exhibit collections using 3D and VR technologies.
- Developed revenue-aligned programming and secured funding to support exhibitions, educational initiatives, and organizational growth.
- Designed and implemented K–12 educational programs reaching 300+ students, with scalable curriculum models integrating storytelling, object analysis, and digital tools.
- Expanded organizational reach across Wisconsin, Illinois, and Mississippi by building strategic partnerships and delivering impactful programming.
CEO & Principal Consultant
Connect Business Consulting, LLC
01.2019 - Current
- Advise organizations on strategic planning, program design, and partnership development across the arts, STEAM education, and the corporate communities.
- Directed national and regional initiatives, including the National STEAM & Dream Program and Southeastern Wisconsin Hour of Code, delivering 32,000+ hours of programming.
- Built and managed high-value partnerships with corporations, nonprofits, and educational institutions to expand funding and program reach.
- Oversaw budget development, financial modeling, and reporting for multi-year initiatives, ensuring sustainability and measurable ROI.
- Developed impactful frameworks and evaluation metrics to support grant acquisition and stakeholder reporting.
Assistant Director, Operations & Community Outreach
Northwestern Mutual
01.2014 - 01.2019
- Led enterprise-level community engagement and STEM initiatives aligned with corporate social responsibility and brand strategy.
- Managed a 450+ Financial Field member research community and developed a centralized repository of 160+ studies to inform corporate strategic decision-making.
- Directed multi-million-dollar budgets and cross-functional teams, delivering complex initiatives on time and within scope.
- Established performance metrics and reporting systems to communicate impact to executive leadership.
Program Manager
Connecture
01.2013 - 01.2014
- Led program management initiatives to reengineer and implement new organizational processes, driving operational efficiency and standardization.
Project Manager
FIS
01.2003 - 01.2013
- Managed global software initiatives with full lifecycle ownership, including budgeting, resource allocation, and delivery.
- Led cross-functional teams and implemented process improvements to enhance performance and scalability.
Education
Master of Science - Communications (MSC)
Northwestern University
Bachelor of Arts - English
University of Wisconsin–Parkside
Master of Arts - Art History (Curation & Museum Practices)
University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
01-2027
Skills
- Program Leadership
- Exhibition Design
- Revenue Strategy, Fundraising
- Donor Cultivation
- Business Development
- Community Engagement
- Digital Innovation (3D/VR, Interactive Interpretation)
- Team Leadership & Organizational Development
- Strategic planning
- Visionary leadership
- Strategic vision
- Project Management
- Business Consulting
- Partnership Building
Accomplishments
- Program Management: - [Describe accomplishment 1].[Describe accomplishment 2].Public Relations: - [Describe accomplishment 1].[Describe accomplishment 2].
- Supervised team of [Number] staff members.
- Resolved product issue through consumer testing.
- Collaborated with team of [Number] in the development of [Project name].
- Achieved [Result] through effectively helping with [Task].
- Achieved [Result] by completing [Task] with accuracy and efficiency.
Affiliations
- Bublr Bike, Executive Board Chair
- Tempo Milwaukee, Ambassador
- Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Member
- Milwaukee (WI) Chapter of The Links, Inc., Member
- Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated, Past Milwaukee Chapter President and Current Life Member
Certification
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
- Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)
EXECUTIVE HIGHLIGHTS
- Directed multi-site exhibitions and programs serving 100–200+ attendees per activation and 300+ youth participants annually
- Built and scaled cross-sector partnerships across universities, museums, and community organizations nationwide
- Organized 32,000+ hours of STEAM and cultural programming across 300+ schools and organizations as a part of the Hour of Code initiative
- Managed multi-million-dollar corporate and program budgets with full lifecycle oversight
- Designed innovative digital engagement strategies integrating 3D scanning, VR, and object-based learning
SELECTED CURATORIAL & PROGRAMMATIC EXPERIENCE
- Curated and executed exhibitions across multiple venues, developing interpretive materials and educational frameworks to deepen audience engagement.
- Designed and led “Junior Curator” programs teaching exhibition development, object interpretation, and storytelling to K–12 audiences.
- Facilitated museum and community-based workshops integrating African art, cultural history, and digital tools (3D/VR).
- Conducted collections research and documentation in collaboration with university galleries, improving cataloging and interpretive standards.
AWARDS
- Leading Women to Watch List, 2025
- Spirit of STEM Award, STEM Forward, 2022
- Madison365 List of 48 Most Influential Black Leaders, 2021
Timeline
Founder & Executive Curator
Nkenge's Gallery
01.2024 - Current
CEO & Principal Consultant
Connect Business Consulting, LLC
01.2019 - Current
Assistant Director, Operations & Community Outreach
Northwestern Mutual
01.2014 - 01.2019
Program Manager
Connecture
01.2013 - 01.2014
Project Manager
FIS
01.2003 - 01.2013
Bachelor of Arts - English
University of Wisconsin–Parkside
Master of Arts - Art History (Curation & Museum Practices)
University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
Master of Science - Communications (MSC)
Northwestern University