M. Kathleen Donald

PROFESSIONAL BIOGRAPHY

Kathleen is a Vice President at the Automotive Hall of Fame where she leads programming, marketing and operatons. With a passion for AHF’s mission, she leverages her strategic ability to craft solutions that drive strong results. Colleagues describe her as having an ability to see the big picture with acute accuracy and objectivity, and lead with clear vision and fairness. She has a natural problem-solving ability. When it comes to clients and coworkers, she shows fierce loyalty driven by her personal value of integrity: you do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do.

Kathleen’s background includes CMO and COO roles in the private sector. She has led advertising efforts for noteworthy brands including Ford, USAA, the United States Navy, Edward Jones, and others. She has also held C-suite positions with Campbell-Ewald, Dassult Systemes’ 3DEXCITE brand and Laser Spine Institute. She also teaches at Wayne State University and has co-authoring a learning platform/textbook, with Catherine Cuckovich. Her teaching expertise includes marketing strategy, advertising and integrated marketing communication and nonprofit management. During the COVID shut-down, Kathleen earned her master’s degree with a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Harvard University.

In her spare time, Kathleen loves traveling, hiking, and spending time with her family.
 

Note from an Advertising Agency Creative Director:  "Kathleen is one of the most talented people I’ve ever known. Tireless, highly intelligent, insightful and relentless when it comes solving problems.

Several times I’ve witnessed her brought on to accounts with clients about to walk out the door, and turn them around so they not only stay, they end up loving the agency. This takes an amazing combination of political acumen, a deep understanding of people and the steadfast will to see it through however long it takes, however difficult it is: tenacity at the highest level.

Kathleen as a person is an anomaly: both one of the kindest and most understanding people I’ve worked with who is deeply compassionate, and a complete ass kicker when it comes to getting things done. She has a strong sense of what’s right and what’s wrong, accepting responsibility and conducting business with honor.  She’s one of the most impressive people I’ve ever met."                                        Jon Stewart