Title: Founder and Principal
Company: Faith 1st Consulting
Location: Hanover, Maryland, United States
Katrina M. Bernard, JD, CPC, founder and principal at Faith 1st Consulting, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in executive consulting.
Mrs. Bernard is the founder and principal of Faith 1st Consulting, a Maryland-based firm she established in 2023. With expertise in executive coaching, management consulting, leadership development and training, policy development, and nonprofit as well as government and military relations, she has made significant strides in her field. As founder and principal of Faith 1st Consulting, Mrs. Bernard drives the vision and direction for the organization, focusing her talents on the Faith 1st mission, which is to empower organizations and individuals through faith-based, people-centered solutions; while striving to create thriving, inclusive cultures that prioritize the well-being and growth of every team member. By providing tailored management consulting and executive coaching services, the Faith 1st aim is to equip leaders with the tools and strategies to inspire and achieve excellence.
Prior to establishing Faith 1st Consulting, Mrs. Bernard served in executive leadership for Sierra Club from 2018 to 2022, where she held pivotal roles, including labor relations director, human resources director, people, culture & equity chief, organizational steering committee member and deputy general counsel for labor & employment. There, she led transformative initiatives to enhance organizational culture, develop comprehensive human resource (HR) policies, and drive equity-focused change management processes forward.
Mrs. Bernard’s journey began in the private sector, where she worked in human resources, training and development for Wirthlin Worldwide, a marketing firm. It expanded when she joined the U.S. Air Force National Guard, where she honed her leadership and project management skills while attending law school. Following law school, she began her legal career practicing labor and employment law for Varnum law, providing expert legal counsel to clients on various workplace issues. Her subsequent tenure as an attorney advisor for the Social Security Administration, from 2009 to 2017, further expanded her expertise, particularly in labor relations and employment law. There, she led in a crucial way, as a harassment prevention officer and harassment investigator, as the organization overhauled its harassment and discrimination procedures.
As noted above, from 2002 to 2010, Mrs. Bernard served with distinction in the Michigan Air National Guard. Her role in information systems management involved supporting the 110th Fighter Wing’s mission, on the ground and in the air; ensuring proper communication channels, maintaining the unit’s information systems, managing records, and aiding in deployments. As a proud veteran, Mrs. Bernard credits her military background and experience for broadening her exposure and providing her with a unique perspective that she was able to carry throughout her law school and post-law school endeavors.
Mrs. Bernard’s storied performance in multiple fields was born of her equally diverse academic endeavors. She holds a Juris Doctor from the Michigan State University College of Law and a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing from Grand Valley State University. She is also a Certified Professional Coach (CPC), trained in life, career and leadership coaching. She describes her coaching practice as deeply personalized, focusing on helping leaders at all levels unlock their potential and achieve their goals. To augment her qualifications, she is a member of several industry-related organizations including the Michigan Bar Association, the District of Columbia Bar, the American Bar Association and the Western District of Michigan Bar Association.
In addition to her professional achievements, Mrs. Bernard is actively involved in her church’s music and arts ministry leadership team, serving as a liaison for the Youth Music & Arts Ministry. Her personal life includes spending time with her husband and daughter, reading, engaging in morning meditation and prayer, practicing Bikram yoga and studying leadership techniques. She is immensely grateful for her family and community and attributes her professional success to her faith in God and the unwavering support of her family.
Looking to the future, Mrs. Bernard is focused on developing and broadening Faith 1st Consulting’s reach and capacity, particularly in executive coaching. She aims to expand the organizational impact within the industry, helping each individual client, one-by-one, navigate challenges, embrace change, and achieve their professional and organizational goals with confidence and faith.
For more information, please visit:
Contact Ms. Bernard:
