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About Kris
 

Kris Torkelson’s collaborative style and wealth of experience set her apart in the consulting field. She dives in, fully committed to each organization, and provides the guidance for their vision to take root and flourish.
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Kris brings 40 years of expertise in HR, operations, and administration, to her work with nonprofits and foundations to build their capacity to fulfill their missions. She focuses on small to midsize organizations working in the social justice arena, promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion with every engagement.

 

Kris’ ability to quickly home in on the optimal strategic personnel structure for an organization enables her to design thoughtful and creative solutions. In addition to leading clients through personnel and operational change, Kris has conducted HR assessments, developed work plans and processes to improve efficiency, planned transitions, trained and coached senior and mid-level management, and organized back-office collaborations. As a search coordinator, she has recruited, interviewed, and recommended candidates for over 125 nonprofit and foundation roles.

Kris Torkelson, President
Torkelson Consulting, Inc.
Oak Park, IL

kris@torkelsonconsulting.com
708-860-9252

  • LinkedIn

 

KRIS’ STRENGTHS

 

  • Listening and hearing

  • Amplifying new voices

  • Providing clarity

  • Designing innovative systems

  • Constructing new ways forward

  • Navigating change

  • Producing tangible results

  • Creating something unexpected

 

FOUNDING MEMBER

 

  • Founding staff : Director of Development, Chicago Foundation for Women

  • Founding staff : Deputy Director, Project Exploration, Chicago

  • Founding staff : Assistant Director, Bread for the City, Washington DC.

  • Founding Advisory Board member and Treasurer : Public Allies, Chicago

  • Founding Editorial Board member : The Chicago Reporter

 

NOTABLES

 

  • Since beginning fulltime consulting in 2009, Kris has partnered with 130 organizations to amplify their impact

  • Kris has coordinated over 76 searches, of which 61% of the candidates placed have been from BIPOC or LGBTQI communities

  • 100% of new client relationships come from the recommendation of a previous client

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PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

  • Creator and Facilitator, Top Talent Institute, Pierce Family Foundation’s nine-month leadership development program

  • Guest Lecturer for Chicago Women in Philanthropy, DePaul University's School of Continuing and Professional Studies, Dominican University, and Northwestern University’s School of Continuing Studies

  • Creator and Facilitator, Leadership Development Institute, Advocate Bethany Community Health Fund

  • Workshop Presenter, Pierce Family Foundation, Crossroads Fund, and Woods Fund Chicago

  • VP of Operations, Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust

  • Deputy Director, Urban Gateways: Center for Arts Education

  • Director of Development and Communications, Community Renewal Society

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