RYAN, Kristy

Photo courtesy: Move for Hunger

RYAN, Kristy. (Florida-- ). On November 9, 2026 Kristy Ryan succeeded Nancy VAN MILLIGEN as the president and CEO of the COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER DUBUQUE which was established on February 1, 2003. The search for a new executive began in April. The process resulted in 228 applications and interviews with 48 people.

At the time of her selection, Ryan was the chief operating officer for Move for Hunger, a nonprofit addressing food security and waste issues. She has stated," My work at Move For Hunger allows me to join in the momentum shift towards sustainable and impactful change. The spark for me is activation; we activate communities to embrace sustainable life-long change." (2) She had previously held leadership roles with the Girl Scouts of Hawaii, Vanguard Industries, Kemper Insurance and Blue Cross Blue Shield. She held a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Arizona and pursued doctoral studies in Sustainable Education at Prescott College in Arizona.

Ryan received national recognition for her leadership: (3)

   2026 Pros to Know - Top Transportation Innovators Category
        Supply & Demand Chain Executive
        Mar 2026

Supply & Demand Chain Executive, the only publication covering the entire global supply chain, named Kristy Ryan, Chief Operating Officer at Move For Hunger as one of the winners of this year’s Pros to Know award, which recognizes outstanding executives whose accomplishments offer a roadmap for other leaders looking to leverage supply chain for competitive advantage. This recognition is for the Top Transportation Innovators.

    2025 Chief New Era of Leadership Award Recipient
         Chief
         Jun 2025

For the women redefining business as usual. The New Era of Leadership Awards recognize executive women shaping the future of business.

Trailblazer, 2024 Women in Supply Chain award

      Supply & Demand Chain Executive and Food Logistics
      Oct 2024

Girl Scout Silver Award

      GSUSA
      Apr 1996

In 2023 Ryan was interviewed by BeYourOwn. In that interview she described herself as:

             I’m an organisation optimisation specialist and provide consulting services to small
             organisations struggling with scale and efficiency. I’m the COO of a nonprofit fighting 
             food insecurity. I’m the co-founder of a youth servicing organisation (with her husband)
             that gives youth pathway alternatives to keep them out of risk situations, teaching them 
             the skill of competitive Junior Olympic Division Archery. I classify myself as a bit of 
             an ambivert. I love what I do, even if it means I divide my time between various passion 
             projects. I always knew I would work in fields that allowed me to be of service to others 
             and while vastly different the three worlds I currently orbit allow me to do just that. (4)

Source:

1. Hogstrom, Erik, "Dubuque Foundation Selects Experienced Nonprofit Executive as New CEO, President," Telegraph Herald, September 23, 2026, p. 2A

2. "Meet the Newest Member of the Team, Kristy Ryan, COO!" https://moveforhunger.org/blog/meet-newest-member-team-kristy-ryan-coo

3. Linkedin, https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristylryan

4. Interview with Kristy Ryan. BeYourOwn. Online: https://www.beyourown.org/blogs/news/interview-spotlight-with-kristy-ryan