KENZIE STRONG
Summary
Seasoned social sector leader with extensive experience in building data driven practice and cultures within philanthropy, nonprofits, and community. Takes a utility, equity, and learning centered approach. Deep experience facilitating conversations to generate insights, new ideas, and accelerate collective learning. Excels in driving strategy, fostering engagement, and designing equitable approaches to evaluation.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Vice President, Impact Services/Quality + Innovation
RESULTSLAB
Remote
01.2017 - Current
- Set the strategy and direction for the Impact Services Team, including the design of 4 product lines and the hiring, oversight and support of a team of 17 evaluation team members
- Designed impact training and coaching experiences for social good organizations, supporting over 100 organizations to more deeply define and measure impact
- Lead partnership cultivation, client stewardship and supported new business development, growing the company 10X over the course of 4 years
- Built foundational systems and practices to instill a strong and inclusive organizational culture and efficient and streamlined operational practices
- Lead and oversee large scale evaluation, strategy, and learning projects across issue areas and with foundations, nonprofits, government, and community initiatives, including projects with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Colorado Access Foundation, Community College of Aurora, Florence Crittenton Services, Colorado Department of Health and Human Services.
Senior Director, Evaluation and Learning
MILE HIGH UNITED WAY
Denver, Colorado
10.2013 - 01.2017
- Founded and led The Performance Collaborative, a comprehensive evaluation capacity building initiative for non-profit organizations, corporations, and community leaders
- Designed and facilitated a set of evaluation, board development, and strategy development modules, influencing the knowledge and practice of 40+ organizations
- Guided the successful implementation of the Social Innovation Fund, providing technical oversight and support to a team of evaluators, funders, and nonprofits to successfully complete 7 rigorous early literacy evaluations (RCTs and QEDs)
- Successfully led 6 youth development organizations through 2 years of comprehensive coaching to develop a theory of change, measurement strategy, and data driven culture
- Educated partners and donors on the importance of organizational strengthening and evidence-based programming
- Led the Evaluation and Learning team at Mile High United Way, setting the strategic direction for the organization and managing a team of 5 researchers to continuously execute.
Deputy Director, Monitoring and Evaluation
RIGHT TO PLAY INTERNATIONAL
Toronto, Canada
01.2012 - 09.2013
- Developed a comprehensive five-year measurement strategy, which guides research, evaluation, tools, data systems, and staffing across 20 countries
- Guided the development of the program theory of change, resulting in a renewed organizational focus on a core set of outcomes and program models
- Educated senior leadership, partners, and donors on the importance of evidence-based programming, resulting in an organizational commitment to triple resources toward measurement in the next five years
- Oversaw the design and implementation of all monitoring and evaluation initiatives in the organization: directly managing 2 staff members and providing technical management and support to 18 field-based staff across 16 countries.
Manager/Specialist, Monitoring and Evaluation
RIGHT TO PLAY INTERNATIONAL
Toronto, Canada
04.2008 - 01.2012
- Developed an organizational monitoring and evaluation framework using a collaborative process to identify specific outcomes, indicators, tools, and plans
- Created a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation manual for staff and partners and conducted over 40 training sessions using participatory facilitation techniques
- Led, provided oversight on 17 evaluations, ensuring appropriate research design, stakeholder buy-in, project management, analysis, communication, and action.
HIV/AIDS Research and Communications Consultant
SAVE THE CHILDREN
Washington DC, USA
06.2007 - 06.2008
- Supported Uganda staff in developing a series of reports and communication tools to share results and learning with donors, beneficiaries and staff
- Facilitated the development of a community-based monitoring and support system for orphans and vulnerable children in rural Uganda
- Monitored policies, issues and trends affecting children with HIV and informed stakeholders through discussion forums, technical briefs, and online publications.
Advocacy and Capacity Building Consultant
ACTIONAID INTERNATIONAL
Kapchorwa, Uganda
11.2006 - 04.2007
- Facilitated a Participatory Vulnerability Analysis to identify social, economic, cultural, and security issues facing the indigenous Benet population
- Supported the Benet people as they advocated with the local, regional and national government, leading to resolutions on four of five long-standing disputes.
Research and Policy Consultant
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, UGANDA
Kampala, Uganda
05.2006 - 08.2006
- Conducted an extensive literature review, stakeholder analysis, and cost-benefit analysis to inform policy recommendations pertaining to out-of-school children
- Presented recommendations to academic and ministerial stakeholders.
Director of Planning and Budgeting
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, MARSHALL ISLANDS
Majuro, Marshall Islands (RMI)
09.2004 - 08.2005
- Led the development and management of the Marshall Islands’ $19 million education budget, integrating both line item and performance based budgeting methods
- Presented and negotiated the national education budget with the Office of President
- Transformed the Ministry’s planning process by facilitating a participatory approach, which increased reporting compliance from 17% to 100%
- Wrote the country’s first Supplemental Education Grant, awarded by the US government in the amount of $6.1 million.
Teacher/World Teach Volunteer
HARVARD CENTER FOR INTL DEVELOPMENT, WORLD TEACH
Jaluit, Marshall Islands
07.2003 - 07.2004
- Taught English to over 160 high school students on a remote island in the Pacific
- Initiated and led after school programs which utilized drama, art, media, and sports to promote holistic development for over 100 vulnerable youth.
Education
Masters in Public Policy -
DUKE UNIVERSITY, Terry Sanford School of Public Policy
Durham, NC05.2007
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration, Finance
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, Leeds School of Business
Boulder, CO05.2000
Skills
- Learning-Focused Evaluation
- Equitable Evaluation
- Evaluation Capacity Building
- Strategic Facilitator and Engaging Trainer
- Strategic Thinker and Planner
- Emergent Learning
- Theory of Change
- Change Management
- Quantitative and Qualitative Methods and Skills
- Participatory methods and practices
- Data Visualization
- Organizational Leader
Additional Leadership And Recognition
KapchorwaCrittentonJaluit
- Recognized as Denver Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40, 2017
- Board of Directors, Denver Urban Scholars/Denver Kids, Program Committee Chair, 2016-2020
- ResultsLab awarded Colorado Companies to Watch 2023
Timeline
Vice President, Impact Services/Quality + Innovation
RESULTSLAB
01.2017 - Current
Senior Director, Evaluation and Learning
MILE HIGH UNITED WAY
10.2013 - 01.2017
Deputy Director, Monitoring and Evaluation
RIGHT TO PLAY INTERNATIONAL
01.2012 - 09.2013
Manager/Specialist, Monitoring and Evaluation
RIGHT TO PLAY INTERNATIONAL
04.2008 - 01.2012
HIV/AIDS Research and Communications Consultant
SAVE THE CHILDREN
06.2007 - 06.2008
Advocacy and Capacity Building Consultant
ACTIONAID INTERNATIONAL
11.2006 - 04.2007
Research and Policy Consultant
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, UGANDA
05.2006 - 08.2006
Director of Planning and Budgeting
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, MARSHALL ISLANDS
09.2004 - 08.2005
Teacher/World Teach Volunteer
HARVARD CENTER FOR INTL DEVELOPMENT, WORLD TEACH
07.2003 - 07.2004
Masters in Public Policy -
DUKE UNIVERSITY, Terry Sanford School of Public Policy
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration, Finance
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, Leeds School of Business
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