Irrigation Association hires marketing director

The Irrigation Association has hired Kathleen Markey as marketing director.

“Kathleen’s two decades of experience with associations and nonprofits make her an ideal fit for the Irrigation Association,” said Deborah Hamlin, executive director. “We look forward to utilizing her knowledge of brand strategy and strategic marketing as we continue to enhance IA’s marketing and communications.”

Markey has served as the director of association marketing at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, a trade association of over 900 consumer-owned electric cooperatives. She also spent seven years with United Way of America, serving first as director of market research and then team leader of branding. She has also held research positions at the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Earle Palmer Brown agency.

For the past several years, Markey has consulted as a strategic director for a Washington-based marketing communications agency, serving clients such as The National Audubon Society, United Way of America, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, APPA (the association of facility managers) and the College of Rheumatology Research and Education Foundation.

She is a member of the American Marketing Association and holds bachelor’s degrees in business and marketing from Virginia Tech.