Hello!
I solve puzzles for a living – the kind where the pieces are people, processes, priorities, deadlines, and the occasional spreadsheet that has somehow developed a personality of its own. I build the systems behind complex programs, bring order to moving parts, and help teams turn ambitious ideas into work that actually gets done.
Think of me as an organizational Swiss Army knife: part project manager, part operations strategist, part translator between big-picture thinkers and the people responsible for making everything happen. Across two decades, I’ve managed global programs, built organizational infrastructure, administered nearly $50 million in grants, supported leaders and stakeholders around the world, and developed processes that make complicated work considerably less complicated.
Program & Project Management | Operations | Implementation
Two decades turning complex, people-centered work into organized, scalable, and effective programs.
I’m a program and project management professional who specializes in turning complexity into structure. My career has spanned executive leadership development, nonprofit operations, global networks, grantmaking, association management, and organizational capacity building, with one consistent theme: figuring out how people, processes, systems, and priorities can work better together.
I’ve managed complex client engagements, coordinated programs spanning 32 countries, supported networks of hundreds of leaders and stakeholders, administered high-volume grant portfolios, built operational frameworks from the ground up, and led initiatives involving everything from strategic planning and research to implementation, communications, and delivery.
My strength is connecting strategy to execution. I can see the big picture, identify what needs to happen next, and build the workflows, tools, timelines, documentation, and relationships required to get there. I’m comfortable navigating ambiguity, coordinating cross-functional teams, managing competing priorities, and stepping into environments where someone eventually says, “We really need a better system for this.”
Equal parts strategist and executor, I see both the forest and the trees… and there is a reasonable chance I have a (color-coded) spreadsheet tracking both. I bring curiosity, calm problem-solving, strong judgment, and a deeply human approach to work that depends on people trusting one another enough to get difficult things done.
Skills I Bring to the Table
Strategic Program Management
Certified Project Manager specializing in complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives. I design programs from concept to completion, managing timelines, budgets, and cross-functional teams with precision and calm clarity.
Grant Management & Development Operations
Specialized experience in high-volume grant administration and development support. Processed $49.8M across 705 grants in six months while maintaining compliance and building stakeholder relationships.
Visual Communications & Content Strategy
Expert at creating compelling content across formats – from 50+ published articles to custom infographics and comprehensive toolkits. I combine strategic messaging with visual design to make complex information accessible and engaging.
People Programs & Organizational Development
I design people-centered systems that build leadership pipelines, foster collaboration, and strengthen organizational culture. Expert in volunteer management, succession planning, and capacity building.
Systems & Process Optimization
I turn operational chaos into systematic excellence. Expert at designing scalable frameworks, streamlining workflows, and creating sustainable structures that support organizational growth.
Event Planning &
Experience Design
Expert at orchestrating large-scale events and designing meaningful experiences. I manage complex logistics while creating engaging programs that build community and drive organizational goals.
Work Experience
Building Capacity for Change-Makers and World-Changers
Managed complex global leadership development programs from kickoff through delivery, coordinating clients, coaches, participants, timelines, systems, and logistics while building efficient processes that kept high-touch engagements running smoothly at scale.
Transformed how a global organization manages 250 volunteer leaders across 32 countries. Created systematic frameworks for leadership development, succession planning, and cultural preservation while maintaining operational excellence across diverse international communities.
Processed $49.8M across 705 grants in six months, serving as primary liaison between international grantees and funding partners. Managed complex compliance requirements while building relationships across diverse funding structures.
Led communications strategy and development operations for national trade association. Launched 21 state associations, administered $1.4M grant program, and created comprehensive content strategy including 50+ published articles and 18 annual benchmark reports. Supported grassroots advocacy campaigns in every single US state and DC.
Led marketing initiatives for competitive equestrian business, producing custom video content, web materials, and creative campaigns. Designed compelling marketing content for diverse clients supporting Olympics-bound trainer.
Orchestrated global, internal/ external, and remote cross-functional teams to design, organize, and present 60+ national and international open enrollment and custom executive leadership programs.
Selected Work
Selected Work & Professional Highlights
A mix of project artifacts, strategic frameworks, credentials, and visual work that reflects how I think, organize, communicate, and solve problems.
Some examples come from internal organizational work and are shown only as previews. Others reflect professional development, personal branding, and the tools I use to make complex ideas clearer and more useful.
Together, they offer a snapshot of both the work itself and the way I approach it.
Professional Recommendations
Please read more than 40 glowing professional recommendations of my work on my LinkedIn profile.
Complex Initiative Leadership
“Acacia has a unique ability to drive complex initiatives, while holding a myriad of relationships related to a network.”
Director of Civic Activation at Burning Man Project
Unmatched Organizational Excellence
“Acacia’s organizations skills—and resulting facilitated forums, programs, gatherings and trainings—are unmatched.”
Maryland Secretary of Agriculture
Strategic Problem-Solving
“Acacia’s ability to navigate complex situations with poise, combined with her bias toward action, makes her an invaluable leader and collaborator.”
Software Engineering Leader at BambooHR
Ready to Transform Your Next Initiative?
Whether you need strategic program management, compelling communications, or systematic operational excellence, I bring two decades of proven results to mission-driven organizations.
Let’s discuss how I can help your organization thrive.
📧 acacia.coast@gmail.com
📱 406.830.6771
🌐 Missoula, Montana
💼 LinkedIn Profile