Katie Distelrath is a seasoned Community Services and Leadership Development professional who helps public sector teams and emerging leaders grow with clarity, confidence, and purpose. Her greatest strengths lie in fostering inclusive, people-centered environments that build resilience, emotional intelligence, and authentic leadership. Over the past 15+ years, Katie has led community engagement initiatives, overseen large-scale programs, and developed high-performing teams across three California municipalities. Her work has included strategic planning, staff development, and innovative service delivery that meets the evolving needs of diverse communities. Katie holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Southern California and a master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of La Verne.

Katie advances JGA’s impact through leadership training, team building facilitation, organizational assessments, and strategic conversations that help teams communicate, connect, and grow. Her favorite JGA value is Humility, which guides her approach to creating psychologically safe environments where people feel seen, heard, and empowered. Katie’s passion for JGA centers around the team’s shared commitment to meaningful, human-centered work. Her favorite quote is from Brene Brown, “Integrity is choosing courage over comfort.”