Originally from St. Paul Minnesota, Kate moved to Ann Arbor in 1999 to attend the University of Michigan.  Kate received an undergraduate degree in voice performance and political science from the University of Michigan, and a master’s degree in arts administration from Eastern Michigan University.  During her time at the University of Michigan, Kate was served as the Tea Chairwoman for the Martha Cook Building, a member of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority a member of Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternity, and co-chaired a Michigan Gubernatorial Campaign in 2002 for the University of Michigan campus.  Kate worked full-time for the Michigan Women's Business Council (now Great Lakes Women's Business Council) while getting her master's degree.  

 

After earning her undergraduate degree, Kate believed she’d fundraise in the arts, but her passion for helping vulnerable populations ensured she spent the majority of her fundraising career working for human service organizations. One of her proudest accomplishments is the role she served as Director of Development and Marketing at Community Alliance.  It was there where she helped organize a community coalition to address the oral health needs of adults with developmental disabilities after the State of Michigan discontinued its Medicaid Dental Benefit.  Her efforts establishing a coalition to provide vital oral health care services were lauded when she was recognized with an Outstanding Young Michiganders of the Year Award by the Michigan Jaycees in 2012.  Kate also served as a director of development for organizations such as the Detroit Historical Society where she and her team closed a 20.1 million dollar capital campaign, and at human service agencies in Washtenaw County: SafeHouse Center and Home of New Vision.   

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After nearly 15 years, Kate left the nonprofit sector in 2016 to work in business development for her step mother’s company, ezbake technologies.  In addition to working closely with her family company, Kate works as a sales, marketing and branding consultant through her companies, Woolly Mammoth Creative and Hired Gun Sales and Business Development.  Kate has worked for a variety of businesses and nonprofit organizations helping with sales, fundraising, branding, and marketing. 

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Recently, Kate has found a passion for teaching.  Kate manages a full voice and piano studio both as a creative outlet and to help educate the next generation of musicians to impart the positive impact that arts have on education. Kate also became an NRA and Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Ownership Certified Instructor.  Kate is passionate about safe and comfortable firearm education, particularly for women, and trains both in a classroom setting, and one-on-one through her company Katy Get Your Gun.

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Kate also serves as a professional guardian to vulnerable adults after seeing how her family struggled to find a compassionate, qualified individual to serve in that role for a loved one.  Through her company AdvoKate, she is able to help adults with unique needs and their families have rich, full lives.  

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Kate has been involved in many charitable organizations in and around Washtenaw County including as a board member for Arbor Opera Theater, and The Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance.  She has served as a committee member for the Red Cross, The Leslie Science and Nature Center, The Metropolitan Opera, and the St. Joseph Mercy Holiday Ball.  She, along with her rescue Percheron Draft Horse, Manny, volunteer for for Camp Casey—an organization that provides a horse camp experience for children with severe illness.  Finally, Kate has volunteered to help several dog rescue organizations.

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Kate and her husband Guy Conti, a local attorney, live in Superior Township, MI with their pack of spitzes, about a mile from their horse Manny.  

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