Staff Reports | Community Updates
Fresh Start Women’s Foundation announced the promotion of Patti O’Brien to chief impact officer, recognizing her leadership in transforming the organization’s client experience, strengthening collaboration, streamlining processes and increasing capacity to advance its mission of empowering women on their path to self-sufficiency.
The role will guide the organization’s impact strategy, aligning programs, client experience, data and marketing to support measurable outcomes for clients and stakeholders, according to a press release. As chief impact officer, Ms. O’Brien will continue to advance collaboration across departments, integrate impact into organizational practices and support service delivery to promote long-term economic mobility.
Ms. O’Brien joined Fresh Start in 2022 as chief marketing officer and expanded her leadership to include client experience and oversight of multiple program areas. Over the past three years, she has worked to align marketing, outreach and programs to create a more connected experience for women seeking services, improving access and strengthening the organization’s ability to track outcomes.
“Patti’s leadership has fundamentally transformed how we serve women at Fresh Start,” said Kim McWaters, president and CEO of Fresh Start Women’s Foundation. “She has built systems focused on our clients’ journeys, equipping our teams with the data to inform strategy, enhance experiences, and improve outcomes. Patti’s promotion reflects the impact she has already made and the critical role she will continue to play in shaping our future.”
Among her accomplishments, Ms. O’Brien led an organizationwide effort to create a unified, client-centered approach across programs and services. She also led the design and implementation of a customer relationship management system to streamline operations, improve service delivery and provide data on client engagement and outcomes. These changes have supported increased capacity, improved coordination and enhanced both the client and staff experience.
Ms. O’Brien previously served as chief operating officer and head of corporate engagement at Maricopa Corporate College. Her experience in marketing, workforce development and operations continues to inform her leadership at Fresh Start.
“I’m honored to step into this role at such an important time for Fresh Start,” said Ms. O’Brien. “The work we’ve done to strengthen the client experience and align our programs is just the beginning. I’m excited to build on that foundation—collaborating across teams to deepen outcomes, expand community impact, and ensure every woman we serve has access to the tools, support, and opportunities she needs to thrive.”
