Sara Meier, M.S.Ed, CAE

Vice President

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Areas of Expertise:

• Process improvement of nonprofit operations
• Research analysis for high potential organizations
• Volunteer management and facilitation
• Program and training development Education and Credentialing Programs

Sara Meier joined Coulter in 2006 with a background in sophisticated program management, nonprofit resource and strategic plan development. During her tenure as the executive director with Coulter client, the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), Meier has become well versed in standards development processes, accreditation programs and certification models. She serves as a member of the ANSI Certificate Accreditation Program Accreditation Committee (CAPAC) and has represented the association externally through industry events including those sponsored by the Brookings Institution, the Institute for Credentialing Excellence and the New York Society of Security Analysts (NYSSA). In her role as a senior consultant with Coulter Strategy & Innovation, Meier has conducted environmental scans and growth analysis for high potential organizations, working to unlock market potential as well as opportunities to streamline operations and improve internal processes.

Prior to her work at Coulter, Meier spent seven years with the nation’s oldest and largest children's literacy organization, Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. In her role as the director of a multimillion-dollar corporate-sponsored program, she oversaw all aspects of the partnership from distributing millions of books, running a nationwide corporate volunteer program to distributing an annual report of the program's activities. She brings 14 years of experience in the education field as a classroom teacher, a curriculum coordinator and a director of program development. She has created resource materials for children, families and educators, and developed and implemented training for teachers, corporate volunteers and staff.

She has presented at various conferences, such as the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the National Head Start Association, Reach Out and Read, the American Library Association, the Institute for Credentialing Excellence, the American Society for Training and Development, the Association for Continuing Higher Education, the National Council for Continuing Education and Training and IIE's Operational Excellence Conference. She has contributed to articles and interviews for Independent Sector and area newspapers.

Meier received her undergraduate degree in psychology with a certificate in personnel administration from the University of Rochester, in Rochester, New York, and received her graduate degree in early childhood and policy administration from the University of Pennsylvania.

Meier, her husband, Adam, and their three children reside in Washington, D.C.

Now, here's the backstory on Sara…

• Hometown: Scarsdale, NY
• First car: Honda Civic
• Superhero power I wish I had: Do any of the superheroes survive without sleep?
• Television show or movie most resembles my current life: probably a cross between The Muppets and The Addams Family? Kind of one big freak show right now.
• App I can’t live without: Is That Gluten Free? (my oldest son has Celiac)
• Favorite guilty pleasure:. Chocolate!
• Three publications I’d recommend for anyone who does what I do: Associations Now (ASAE), Training & Development (ASTD), Just Let Me Lie Down: Necessary Terms for the Half-Insane Working Mom (Kristen van Ogtrop)
• What I do on my “free” time: Read, run, have a dance party with my kids
• If I could travel anywhere in the world, I would go…: Can’t pick just one…Africa, Australia, back to Anguilla
• Advice I would give my “younger self”: Relax, travel more, learn to cook
• How my life has changed since I joined Coulter: Gained experience in a new and interesting field, participated in and lead a variety of association management projects, met and formed relationships with some truly wonderful people, laughed very hard on many occasions, enjoyed great food and wine, added a few new people to my family!
• At the end of the day…: Sleep makes me a better person. I don’t get enough of it with work, a full house and a husband I like to have a conversation with after all three children are finally in bed - but I will keep trying! At the end of the day, I may be tired but I feel incredibly fortunate for such a full life.