Board Secretary
Kristen Barnfield is a communications and marketing strategist with 20+ years of experience in branding, fundraising, digital marketing, corporate communications, and public relations. She is passionate about bringing important causes to life by refining voice, clarifying complex issues, and finding compelling, emotional, and engaging ways to reach broader audiences and inspire action.
Previously, Kristen served as Vice President of Communications at Easterseals, the nation’s largest disability services organization. As a member of the national executive team, she collaborated on business strategy and directly supported senior leadership and the CEO across all communications. She led media relations, issues management, national rebranding initiatives, thought leadership campaigns, and communications training for teams nationwide. During her tenure, Kristen developed a deep commitment to Easterseals and the disability inclusion movement. Today, she serves as a volunteer member of the Board of Directors for her local affiliate, Easterseals DuPage & Fox Valley.
Earlier in her career, Kristen spent many years at Edelman. In 2020, she co-founded Change for Balance with Judi Ketcik, Roddy Tabatabai, and John McCarthy—proving that when lifelong friends join forces, meaningful impact follows.
