Kaye Kirsch
Founder | Organizer
Kaye Kirsch
Introduction
For over three decades, Kaye has built startups and nonprofits around the globe, serving in project management or operational leadership roles with both new and established companies in the tech, cooperative, and nonprofit sectors.
Kaye is a long-time board member of HealthStore Foundation, which has provided basic healthcare to millions in East Africa through an innovative micro-franchise model. She served as Operations Director for Sewa Ashram, a community health care center in India, and has served as a board member and chair on ag-focused boards, including the ND Organic Advisory Group and Northern Plains Sustainable Agricultural Society.
In the cooperative industry, she has assembled and led teams on feasibility assessments, store design, and operational planning for startup food co-ops, in addition to managing business turnaround plans for existing cooperatives. Kaye has direct experience as a project manager for a startup co-op throughout their development phase and has also served as an Interim General Manager with two newly opened food co-ops.
- Developed and facilitated special projects, strategic plans, and workshops, including an array of topics, such as transformational leadership, understanding bias, and power for nonprofit, for-profit, and cooperative businesses.
- She has presented to large and small groups within industry, city and state governments, universities, and media outlets.
- Darnell has a Master of Education from Harvard University and is an International Coaching Federation Credentialed Coach.
- Appointed by Governor Healy to the Advisory Board for the Massachusetts Center of Employee Ownership.
- Board Chair of the Massachusetts Advisory Board on Employee Ownership and the Board chair of the Food Co-op Initiative, a national nonprofit organization.
Areas of expertise
Project Planning and Project Management
- Project design and project management
- Nonprofit leadership, development, and administration
- Retail operational expertise, including assembling and leading teams of experts on feasibility and turnaround planning, marketing, and retail design
