It is a way of building relationships and reminding people that they are part of something bigger than themselves. Since joining the Diocese in 2025, Kiki has found a role that brings together her professional experience, her years of involvement in Catholic education and her desire to make others feel valued. 

“I feel incredibly blessed to have found a role that truly feels like my calling,” she said. “For me, this work is about gratitude, appreciation and recognizing the generosity of others.”

Before coming to the Diocese, Kiki spent more than 20 years working in the background screening industry, specializing in criminal record product management. A graduate of Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Science in Education, she developed a strong foundation in project management, communication and relationship building. But her connection to the Catholic community long predates her current position. As a mother, she was deeply involved in her sons’ education, volunteering at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic School and St. Petersburg Catholic High School, where she served in roles including PTA president, Boosters spirit chair and fundraising chair. She also coached basketball and found plenty of other ways to support students and families. 

“In many ways, joining the Diocese feels like coming home,” Kiki said. “What started as volunteering and being involved in my son’s education has grown into an opportunity to serve the larger Catholic community in a professional capacity.”

Today, that same spirit of service guides her work in development. Kiki recognizes that much of what makes the Diocese’s mission possible depends on the generosity of donors, volunteers, parents, parishioners and community partners. She sees her role as an opportunity to help those individuals understand the difference they make and to build meaningful connections between their generosity and the people it serves. 

“I believe people want to know that their contributions, time and support make a difference, and I love being part of the process that communicates just how much they are valued,” she said. “A simple thank you can go a long way, but I also believe there is an opportunity to make appreciation personal, thoughtful and memorable.” 

Kiki believes the work is about more than expressing thanks; it is about helping people feel connected to the mission they support and reminding them that they are Courageously Living the Gospel. And if she can bring a little laughter into the process, all the better. Kiki describes herself as someone who enjoys bringing people together, creating meaningful connections and finding thoughtful ways to make others feel appreciated. 

“Showing gratitude and expressing appreciation come naturally to me, so having the opportunity to do that every day is incredibly rewarding,” she said. “I love making connections, celebrating generosity and, most importantly, having fun while doing it!” 

Her approach reflects a belief that meaningful relationships are built through genuine care and personal connection, whether through a thoughtful note, a conversation or a moment that makes someone feel seen. She hopes the people she encounters leave knowing that their generosity matters and that they have an important place in the life of the Diocese.

That sense of purpose has deep roots in Kiki’s own faith journey. Raised in a Catholic household, she attended Catholic school from kindergarten through 12th grade, including St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, an all-girls Catholic high school. Faith was a constant in her family life, and when she became a mother, she wanted to pass that foundation on to her own sons. Some of her most cherished memories come from summers spent in New Jersey with her grandmother, who attended daily Mass and prayed the Rosary every afternoon. Kiki remembers asking her grandmother whom she was praying for and learning that her prayers included her children, grandchildren and generations to come. 

“I remember feeling so relieved, knowing she had us all covered!” she said with a laugh. 

Her grandmother’s example, along with the faith of her mother, sister, aunts and uncles, helped shape her understanding of the importance of prayer and keeping God at the center of life.

As Kiki raised her sons, Brandon, 28, and Shane, 21, she continued those traditions in her own family. She made Catholic education a priority and became an active presence in the school communities, giving her time to fundraising, coaching and the many activities that brought families together. Looking back, she sees those years as an extension of her faith rather than simply a list of volunteer commitments. Supporting students, encouraging families and helping build a strong school community were all ways of putting her beliefs into practice. Her parish home today is Most Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, and her work with the Diocese has given her another opportunity to live out the values that have guided her throughout her life.

Kiki’s faith has also been tested by one of life’s most difficult experiences. Her husband, Sean, passed away unexpectedly in 2025, changing the lives of Kiki and their two sons in ways she could never have imagined. It is a deeply personal part of her story, but one that has shaped how she approaches each day and the people around her. 

“Life has certainly taken some unexpected turns, and losing Sean has changed my world in ways I could never have imagined,” she said. “It has taught me a great deal about resilience, perspective and the importance of finding joy in the little things.” 

She strives to live with gratitude, embrace each day and make the most of the time and opportunities she has been given. Even in difficult moments, she believes laughter and a positive attitude can help carry a person forward.

Through that loss, Kiki has continued to discover what it means to trust God when the path ahead is uncertain. 

“I have come to realize that faith doesn’t mean you won’t experience hardship or heartache. It means knowing you are not walking through it alone,” she said. 

Prayer, the people who surround her and the foundation of faith established throughout her life have helped her find moments of grace, even when she has more questions than answers. 

“I am learning to trust God’s plan, even when I don’t understand it, and to find blessings in the people, opportunities and moments that surround me.” 

Her experience has deepened her appreciation for the small things that might otherwise go unnoticed and reinforced her desire to make the people in her life feel loved and valued.

For Kiki, joining the Diocese has become another part of a journey that seems to have come full circle. After years of serving Catholic schools and supporting her parish community, she now has the opportunity to contribute to the mission of the Church in a professional capacity. She sees the connections between her past experiences and her current work as reminders that God can lead people in unexpected directions. 

“I truly believe God has a way of placing us where we are meant to be, sometimes in ways we don’t recognize until we look back,” she said. “Today, I feel grateful to be right where I am, doing work that allows me to share my faith, serve others and make a difference."