Amy Kester

Director of Program Development

Amy I. Wagner Kester holds a degree in political science from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota and in 2005 earned a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Wisconsin. Amy’s love for travel and heart for humanitarian work has profoundly changed her life. After witnessing poverty, disease, and the devastation of war, she refocused her professional energies into international relief and development work. As part of her most recent efforts, Amy joined the GRDP staff in 2006 as the Director of Program Development. Here she works alongside our partners to design and fund humanitarian programs in some of the most challenging environments in the world.

In addition to her academic credentials, Amy brings a diverse skill set and over fourteen years of professional experience in business, government, and non-profit environments. After working for a District Planning Council in St. Paul during college, Amy was introduced to proposal writing while working for a logistics software company where she helped develop software solution proposals. Later she worked for a Wisconsin municipality in an interdisciplinary capacity as a community development specialist and urban planner for five years. She developed expertise in low-income housing, economic development, land use, historic preservation, urban revitalization, and comprehensive planning. Through strategic planning, grant writing, and program administration, Amy played an integral role in expanding the city's low-income housing program.

In 1999, Amy formed Community Development Specialists, a consulting business focusing on planning, resource development, and project management. Her consulting work has included grant writing and resource development, the administration of municipal, county, and state low-income housing programs, comprehensive planning, and the development and funding of international humanitarian projects in multiple sectors in Central Asia and Africa. In addition to her consulting activities, Amy also worked for Shelter For Life International as a Senior Program Development Officer, where she developed projects and secured funds for humanitarian work in Afghanistan, Indonesia, Iraq, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Tajikistan. She is inspired by the opportunity with GRDP to develop the capacity of humanitarian organizations and rebuild the lives of people, communities, and nations devastated by conflict and disaster.

Amy lives in a hundred year old house on Doty Island in Neenah, Wisconsin with Richard, her husband of over twelve years.

Back to top

In This Section:

• Leadership Team