The United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) is pleased to introduce Karin Soyster Fitzgerald, a seasoned trade association and meetings professional, as the Foundation’s new Chief Operating Officer. Fitzgerald, a Certified Association Executive and Certified Meeting Professional, brings nearly 30 years of membership, meetings, and operations experience to USGIF.
Most recently, Fitzgerald served as Chief Operations Officer and Deputy Executive Director of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) from 2012 to 2017, where she helped grow the organization to a $20 million budget, a 75-person staff, and more than 11,000 members. She streamlined IAFC’s data collection processes and finances as well as led a staff reorganization in 2014.
“We simply could not have found a better fit for our COO position than Karin,” said USGIF CEO Keith J. Masback. “Her background demonstrates a rich, unique combination of association management and event operations experience along with superb financial acumen. We’re excited to bring her aboard as a senior leader on our team, and I’m confident she will contribute meaningfully to our work for many years to come.”
Fitzgerald has also held positions with the American Bakers Association, the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, the Manufactured Housing Institute, the International Sleep Products Association, and the American Subcontractors Association. In her new role at USGIF, Fitzgerald will contribute to the development of USGIF’s strategic goals, implement new processes to achieve success, identify opportunities for USGIF to leverage cross-program strengths, provide the Foundation’s high-performing staff with day-to-day leadership, and much more.
“I am thrilled to join an organization that has a direct impact on national and global security and also to join an industry that is experiencing exponential growth in both the public and private sectors,” Fitzgerald said.