Katie Hallman

CREATIVE STRATEGY. INSTITUTIONAL TRANSFORMATION.

Katie leads institutions through high-stakes change — from cultural transformation to capital expansion. Through strategic clarity and direct communication, she aligns boards, donors, and leadership into durable structures that withstand pressure.

Guiding institutions through their most critical moments.

Because the next chapter should be built to last.

TOP PRIORITIES

Katie provides interim leadership and strategic guidance for institutions navigating pivotal moments.

Stakeholder Alignment

The demands are loud. Katie brings clarity to competing priorities, aligning boards, leadership, donors, and teams around a shared vision and actionable path forward. She helps complex organizations work better by getting the right people moving in the same direction.

Strategic Guidance

Plans do not create progress. People do. Katie helps organizations turn ideas into clear priorities, shared ownership, and practical next steps — building strategies that can actually be lived, not just admired.

Critical Transitions

When the plan implodes, Katie is your first call. Whether the challenge is global disruption or internal disarray, she asks the right questions, steadies the room, and helps organizations find their way forward — even when the path is entirely new.

WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT KATIE

Tiffany O'Donnell

MAYOR, CEDAR RAPIDS, IA & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WOMEN LEAD CHANGE
"Katie has a gift for taking an idea and actually making it happen in a way that moves a community forward. She understands that the arts aren’t separate from economic development, that they’re a big part of what makes people want to live, work, and invest in a community. As Mayor, I’ve seen how her energy and entrepreneurial mindset turn creative ideas into real impact, strengthening both our economy and our quality of life."
Keri Mesropov

FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SPRING TALENT DEVELOPMENT

"You know those rare leaders you hear about; the ones who are both sharp strategists and fearless executors? The ones who never lose the thread of the bigger picture? This is Katie. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Katie for many years on people and culture strategies. She is a unique blend of informed energy, persuasive eloquence, and a roll-up-the-sleeves ‘let’s solve this thing!’ rigor. You want to tackle complex problems? Optimize big opportunities? Infuse a team with sustained energy? Hire Katie.”
Angie Toomsen

EXECUTIVE & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, THEATRE CEDAR RAPIDS

“Katie approaches strategy with imagination and a wide-angle perspective. With creative wildness, she questions assumptions, connects and generates ideas others might overlook, and uncovers surprising paths forward. She also has a strong, empathic instinct for recognizing the unique strengths within a team and shaping plans that leverage the best in people.”
Steve Pettus

MANAGING PARTNER/COO, DICKIE BRENNAN & COMPANY
“When Katie joined Le Petit Theatre, they were undergoing a significant period of transition. Along with reestablishing operations following an extended closure for renovations, the theatre was also navigating a new partnership with our restaurant, Tableau—an arrangement involving numerous shared spaces. Katie’s professionalism and diplomacy were instrumental during this time. In developing the MOU, she collaborated with us to establish a mutually beneficial agreement. Throughout her tenure at Le Petit, Katie maintained clear and consistent communication, laying the groundwork for a strong and successful Le Petit/Tableau partnership.”
James Klein

PRESIDENT & CEO, CEDAR RAPIDS BANK & TRUST
“Katie is a dynamic leader who uses her creativity to see a vision for the future. Unlike other CEOs, Katie has a sense for getting genuinely curious about what’s possible, leading to creative solutions and real action. Katie influences entire communities, inviting leadership across industries to join her in asking ‘what is possible?’”