Meet Katie Fernstaedt
About Katie
Katie is an experienced association management and meetings professional who serves as the Executive Director for the General Thoracic Surgical Club (GTSC) and the Senior Meetings Manager for the National Association of State Facilities Administrators (NASFA). She specializes in planning and delivering meaningful educational conferences and virtual events, bringing more than a decade of industry expertise to her work. Before joining GMP, she worked as the Events and Volunteer Coordinator at an animal shelter in Wisconsin, an experience that strengthened her passion for non-profit organizations.
Outside of work, Katie enjoys attending local events with her fiancé and friends, taking walks with her mini goldendoodle Cooper, and experimenting with new recipes.
What do you really do for work?
What I really do at work is bring people together. I manage the planning and execution of educational conferences and virtual events for the organizations I support, ensuring every detail runs smoothly behind the scenes. I work closely with volunteer leaders, vendors, and partners to create meaningful experiences for attendees while keeping each association’s mission and goals at the center. Whether it’s building an agenda, coordinating logistics, navigating budgets, or helping modernize processes, my role is all about making sure the organizations I support can shine.
Describe your perfect day
My perfect day involves traveling to a new city or state, seeing the sights and asking the locals for recommendations on the best restaurants and wineries. The day would end with star gazing in a grassy field while imagining where my next adventure will lead me.
What's your superpower?
My superpower is building meaningful, lasting relationships with sponsors and exhibitors. I have a knack for understanding what industry partners value and turning that into thoughtful, well‑designed sponsorship and exhibiting opportunities that support both the event and the organization. I love creating partnerships that feel collaborative, genuine, and mutually beneficial, and I take pride in making sure sponsors feel appreciated, engaged, and excited to return each year.
What's your life motto?
“The woman who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The woman who walks alone is likely to find herself in places no one has ever been before.”
What inspires you?
I am inspired by others who are experts in the areas I wish to improve on. Whether at work or in my personal life, I find myself observing others to learn how they handle certain situations. I feel like you can never stop learning and improving in life and by observing others around me, I am inspired to become a better and more successful version of myself.