WWBIC Names Christina Knudsen as Vice President of Development & Communications

MILWAUKEE, WIS. – The Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) has experienced a tremendous period of growth over the past year, with the Project Optimize program and a new grant program to meet increased need during the pandemic, the opening of a new office in La Crosse, and more. In order to properly support these new programs and initiatives, WWBIC has hired Christina Knudsen as the new Vice President of Development & Communications.

“We are thrilled to bring Christina into the fold of our WWBIC leadership. Her decades of experience managing non-profit organizations and her skills as a Development Director will be a great complement to our statewide team,” said WWBIC President and CVO, Wendy K. Baumann. “We are specifically pleased to have her philanthropic and marketing expertise as WWBIC continues to grow financially and expand our services.”

As Vice President of Development & Communications, Knudsen will actively participate in WWBIC’s senior management team to provide leadership to the organization while working collaboratively to set and support agency direction, consistent policies and procedures, and strategic plan implementation. She will direct WWBIC’s development, grant compliance, strategic plan management, and communications/marketing functions. Knudsen brings her skills in project management, special events, donor relations, solicitation, philanthropy, public relations, and marketing to WWBIC. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Masters of Education in Professional Development degree.

Her professional experience includes several leadership positions – Development Director at the Salvation Army of La Crosse, Child Watch & Preschool Program Director at the YMCA in La Crosse, Education Director at the Children’s Museum of La Crosse, and Director of Development for the Blue Stars Performing Arts for Youth organization.

In addition, Knudsen has been active in the La Crosse community. She recently served as Fundraising Consultant to Next Chapter of La Crosse. She has also served as the Board of Directors Communications Chair for the Wisconsin Volunteer Coordinators Association, as well as the Marketing/Promotions Chair and the Board President for the Congregational Preschool Board of Directors.

Knudsen is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and was named YMCA Director of the Year in 2019. She has also served as a graduate assistant co-teacher and guest speaker for educational studies curriculum and has co-authored a research project published in the Wisconsin Mathematics Teacher Journal.

“I am so very honored to be welcomed to the WWBIC team. My passion is within community economic development, project management, and the culture of philanthropy,” says Knudsen. “Serving in the new Vice President role, I get to work with an amazing team who is focused on the growth and expansion of programs and services for the good of others. I look forward to being a part of the WWBIC initiative of making a difference one business at a time.”

About WWBIC
The Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC), is a leading, statewide innovative economic development corporation “Putting Dreams to Work” and is one of Wisconsin’s first Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI). WWBIC’s primary focus is on women, people of color, lower-income individuals, and veterans and military connected families, providing direct lending and access to fair and responsible capital, quality business training, one-on-one technical business assistance and education to increase financial capability. Since 1987, WWBIC has lent over $85 million in micro and small business loans with a current loan portfolio of $23.5 million and over 600 active borrowers. To learn more about WWBIC visit: www.wwbic.com.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.