CIVIC TEAM

Mary Kate Andris, Ed.D.

President & CEO

Prior to being named President and Chief Executive Officer of the CIVIC Leadership Institute, Dr. Andris served as a Director of Council Partnerships for the Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA). There she supported more than 30 Council CEOs and their Board Chairs in annual and strategic planning for growth and sustainability.

Before joining GSUSA, Dr. Andris served as President and CEO of the YWCA South Hampton Roads where she worked to increase revenue from philanthropic sources and build awareness of the YWCA South Hampton Roads’ brand.  During her tenure, the organization received its largest private gift ever: $2 million from MacKenzie Scott, philanthropist and author.

Dr. Andris serves on the Virginia Council on Women and was an Inside Business Women in Business Honoree. She holds two degrees from Widener University: a Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration and a Master’s Degree in Higher Education along with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Management from Moravian University.

Mary Kate and her husband, Kevin, have two teenage boys and a dog named Nyx.

Tage S. Counts

Vice President of Strategic Engagement

Tage Counts joins CIVIC Leadership Institute after serving the City of Norfolk as a Business Development Manager for the Economic Development department. Since returning to the Hampton Roads community in 1995, Tage has spent the majority of his professional career in marketing, sales, membership and business development. Previous roles included Vice President Membership with the Hampton Roads Chamber and Senior Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations for Tidewater Home Funding. Tage has consistently delivered exceptional results throughout his career. His passion for fostering business growth and building lasting relationships has earned him recognition as Salesperson of the Year, Employee of the Year, Top Forty Under 40 alum, and bronze recipient of CoVaBiz’s Best Local Leader Making A Difference.

Tage’s desire and passion to serve our community reaches well beyond his professional life having given a great deal of his time, talent and treasures to support non-profit organizations throughout the Hampton Roads region. A current board member for VOLUNTEER Hampton Roads, Tage has also given of his time as a servant leader for organizations such as the American Cancer Society, Portsmouth Partnership, and Portsmouth Partnership, and the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. His efforts were recognized as a previous recipient of VOLUNTEER Hampton Roads’ Corporate Volunteer Excellence Awards. Tage is a 2019 graduate of LEAD Hampton Roads and a 2020 graduate of the Vann H. Lefcoe Leadership Development Program.

Tage currently resides in the city of Virginia Beach with his spouse of 28 years, Diana. They are the proud parents of Chase, who after graduating from Hampden-Sydney College resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Kacey, who is completing her senior year of studies at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida. In his free time, Tage enjoys kayak fishing on the Back Bay and spending time with Diana and his family.

Kristin Stephens

Director, CIVIC Scholars Program and Media/Marketing

Kristin Stephens is a dedicated professional with over 15 years of experience in education, leadership, and nonprofits. She holds dual Master of Science degrees in Management and Leadership and in Human Sciences with a concentration in Financial Planning, and is currently pursuing her Master of Education in Educational Technology and Instructional Design.

In her previous role, she served as the Assistant Director for Experiential Learning at Old Dominion University’s Center for Career and Leadership Development where she managed programs including Career Treks and the Greater Norfolk Corporation Mentorship Program. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for Youth Volunteer Corps of Hampton Roads and is the founder and President of Tidewater LEAD.

Kristin has held several positions in the nonprofit sector, including Director for Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, President of Okinawa Leadership Seminar, and Education Manager for Junior Achievement, and in higher education as a Western Governors University faculty member for undergraduate leadership and business management courses. Her commitment and service have been recognized through honors including the President’s Volunteer Service Lifetime Achievement Award and the Virginia Association of Colleges and Employers’ New Professional Award.

Kristin resides in Chesapeake with her retired Navy husband, Ryan, and two teenage sons. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, attending Broadway musicals, hiking, and spoiling her golden retriever and bernedoodle “furbabies”.