Keith Kirkpatrick has earned recognition as one of Northwest Indiana’s leading authorities on organizational leadership and entrepreneurship. Along with his position of President of the KPM Group, he serves as the Executive Director for Leadership Northwest Indiana. Keith is a trusted coach and advisor to many businesses, not-for-profits and community leaders. Literally hundreds of university students, community leaders, and business executives have credited him for enhancing their skills and helping them move toward their potential. He now hosts a weekly show on Lakeshore Public Television focusing on regional issues and events.
Keith was the founder and Executive Director of the Institute for Innovative Leadership at Indiana University Northwest from 2000-07. From 1992 through 2000, Keith served as founding Executive Director for the Northwest Indiana Entrepreneurship Academy, working closely with the Northwest Indiana Forum and Small Business Development Center before aiding in the start-up of the Porter County Community Foundation where he served as Executive Director. Keith has conducted hundreds of seminars in the areas of marketing, team building, customer service, leadership, supervision, strategic thinking, and motivation. He has taught business classes at Indiana University Northwest and IVY Tech Community College, while serving as a guest lecturer at Purdue University Calumet, Valparaiso University, Purdue North Central and Calumet College. Keith was recruited to make nine trips to Eastern Europe serving as visiting faculty for the MBA program at Belarus State University and presenting at several universities in Minsk. He is a former faculty fellow at the Indiana University Tobias Leadership Center.
Keith Kirkpatrick is a true entrepreneur, having started his first business at the age of 24 while living in Chicago. He has been involved in the start-up and ownership of several businesses, including screen printing equipment manufacturer, counseling agency, private business school, printing supply distributor, specialty gift production, and equipment importing. He has served as production manager for a Fortune 500 company, marketing coordinator for a sheltered workshop, sales manager for manufactured housing, construction general contractor, director of community services for a community action program, and director of education for a private business and technical college. As an owner Keith oversees a property management business, an internet based enterprise marketing distinctive plaques, and a practice offering consultation, training and facilitation in the areas of strategic planning, business feasibility, product development, marketing, and organizational development.
Keith received his undergraduate degree in Political Science from Illinois State University and has continued his commitment to life-long learning by taking graduate classes and seminars at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, University of Illinois-Chicago, Northern Illinois University, and Ball State University. He was recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration as its 2003 Indiana Small Business Advocate and by the Northwest Indiana World Trade Council with its Tai-Pan Award for his service as President for five years and his teaching in Eastern Europe. In 2008 he was named a Champion of Diversity by Indiana Minority Business Magazine.
Keith is committed to community involvement and support. He chairs the Northwest Indiana Junior Achievement Board and Southshore Leadership Society, while also serving as secretary for the Northwest Indiana Regional Workforce Board. He sits on the boards of Northwest Indiana Quality of Life Council, Race Relations Council, Junior Achievement of Chicago, Small Business Development Center, Northwest Indiana Society of Innovators, Vision 2040 Regional Planning Committee, NWI Business Magazine Editorial Board, IUN Chancellor’s Commission on Community Engagement, and Porter County Vocational Education Advisory. Keith is a member of the International Leadership Association and a devoted Christian leader. He serves his church, Valparaiso First United Methodist, as a worship leader, choir member and Methodist Men’s Group Program Chair. Keith is proud of his small town roots in Southern Illinois.
Contact Keith.
Julie Brown, Executive Assistant
For 12 years Julie ran her own business as a Licensed Home Day Care Provider. She was also the Regional Home Day Care Nutritional Coordinator. During these years she began to develop her computer, organizational, bookkeeping, training and clerical skills. In 1996 she went to work for Guidepost for Kids/Teens magazines as their Photo Editor and Administrative Assistant to the Art Director. In 2000 she was hired as the Office Manager and Assistant to the Executive Director of the Chesterton/Duneland Chamber of Commerce. After leaving the Chamber Julie went to work for St Anthony’s Health System for the Center for Neuromuscular Therapy and Integrative Health. She left St. Anthony’s to work for Pathway Family Center and pursue her passion, which is working with teens and families that are dealing with addictions. She was their Program Rep. and Parent Mentor. Julie is very active in the Boy Scout of America, her church and the Duneland community.
Contact Julie.
Kevin Raidy, Senior Associate
Kevin Raidy is
the Senior Associate for
the KPM
Group and serves as the Communication
Coordinator for Leadership Northwest Indiana. He has fifteen years of experience working
for large multinational corporations and entrepreneurial start-up companies focused
on international trade. In these roles
his projects included implementation of a
5 million dollars global freight forwarding network, managed and directed 20
million dollars in production and sales for a pesticide and fungicide company,
and managed specialized after-market auto care products destined for the Middle
East countries. He has attained Six-Sigma certification and received various
leadership awards within the companies he served.
Toward the end of his tenure in the global marketplace, Kevin
began transitioning into pastoral ministry.
The transformation happened throughout his seminary education, and while
being a Resident Chaplain at Indiana University’s Level-One Trauma & Cancer
Research Hospital, and Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. For the past seven years, he has been the Lead
Pastor in two congregations.
Kevin brings a combined experience and passion for business
operations and ethics with a focus on non-profits within the service and faith-based
arenas. His understanding of
connectedness allows him to assist others in grasping how they are linked
across time, distance, race, ethnicity, religion, economic levels, languages,
or cultures. He makes a point for
everyone to work together for the common good while breaking down barriers
which might separate others. He has a
fervent desire to help eliminate exploitation of children, and human
trafficking.
Besides his work for KPM Group and LNI, Kevin owns and
operates a faith-based consulting company which exists to impact personal and
organizational relationships toward financial, spiritual and transformational
health. He has published various
faith-based articles, and is currently writing two books dealing with
self-awareness and authentic leadership.
Kevin holds a BA in International Business and French from
Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, a Diplôme de Langue Française from
Aix-en-Provence, France, and a Master of Divinity from Christian Theological
Seminary, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Contact Kevin
Joan Lindstrom, Bookkeeper
Joan Lindstrom comes to KPM Group with over 20 years of
bookkeeping experience and financial organizational infrastructure
expertise. As a lifetime resident of
Rensselaer, her knowledge and passion for small town business development is a
cornerstone value she holds. In fact
entrepreneurial endeavors are in her family heritage as her grandfather and
father both started their own businesses.
She too has been a small business owner for 18 successful years with the
Montessori Preschool of Rensselaer.
Contact Joan
