— About Jackie
The Connector.
The Strategist.
The Advocate.
I bring relationships, strategy, and genuine follow-through to every engagement
rooted in a region I’ve called home my whole life.
— Who I am
A Trusted Voice in Central New York
I’m a business development consultant and strategic partnerships specialist, but my real credential is three decades of relationships built across Central New York.
I studied civil engineering at Clarkson University and spent time working on projects in Boston and London before finding my way into community and economic development. That engineering mindset never left me. I approach partnerships the same way I approached projects: with structure, follow-through, and build things that last. That’s carried into everything I’ve done since.
After seven years leading the Clinton Chamber of Commerce — where we grew membership by 81%, built a recurring sponsorship model, and helped secure a $10M DRI grant. I went on to lead planning and operations at a local firm before founding Jackie Walters Consulting to do this work on a broader scale. I help organizations show up in the right rooms, build the right relationships, and turn that presence into something real.
— how I work
Guiding Principles That Drive Every Engagement
Relationships Before Transactions
Every meaningful outcome starts with a genuine human connection. I invest time in understanding the people behind the organizations I work with their goals, their pressures, and what success actually looks like for them. That’s not a warm-up to the work. That is the work.
Strategy With Staying Power
I don’t hand you a playbook and walk away. I develop strategies tailored to your organization, your market, and where you want to go and then I stay in it with you. The follow-through is where most efforts fall apart. That’s exactly where I show up.
Visibility With Purpose
Being in the room only matters if you’re there for the right reasons. I help you show up intentionally, at the right tables, with the right people so that your presence builds real relationships, not just name recognition.
Community is the Long Game
I’ve built my career here because I believe in this region. When you work with me, you’re not just hiring a consultant — you’re tapping into a network that took decades to build. I help you find your place in the CNY ecosystem in a way that earns credibility and goodwill that lasts.
— My story
Rooted Here. Built Here. Invested Here.
I’m the daughter of Hmong refugees who fled Laos after the Vietnam War. My family crossed the Mekong River into Thailand and stayed in a refugee camp until Park Central Presbyterian Church and Catholic Charities sponsored us to come to Syracuse, NY. I grew up here, graduated from Liverpool High School, and though I spent nearly 20 years living and working across the U.S. and abroad, upstate New York is where I chose to come back to.
My parents arrived with nothing and built everything through hard work, community, and trust. They went on to sponsor other Hmong families, and what grew from that was a close community across the Syracuse area. That upbringing shaped everything about how I work, the follow-through, the relationship investment, the belief that showing up consistently is what earns trust over time.
Eventually I found my professional home in exactly the kind of community-centered work my parents modeled: building organizations, connecting people, and helping the region I grew up in grow stronger.
— community & Civic engagement
Embedded in the CNY Ecosystem
My work extends beyond my clients. I’m an active contributor to the Central New York Community through board service, civic leadership, and ongoing advocacy for regional growth.
Clinton Kirkland Improvement Corporation — VP of the Board
I serve as Vice President of the board, driving neighborhood revitalization, local investment, and quality-of-life improvements in the Village of Clinton, Town of Kirkland and surrounding hamlets.
Upstate Minority Economic Alliance (UMEA) — Board Member
I’m a board member committed to advancing economic equity and opportunity for minority-owned businesses across the Upstate New York region.
Academic & Institutional Partnerships
I serve on Hamilton College’s Town-Gown Committee bridging campus and community, and as Co-President of Clarkson University’s Mohawk Valley Alumni Chapter and on the Alumni Leadership Board.
Utica Chamber & Munson — Board Member
I’m an active board member supporting the Utica Chamber of Commerce and Munson, contributing to local business growth and community development in the Mohawk Valley.
CenterState CEO — Ambassador
Serving as an Ambassador for CNY’s leading business advocacy organization, representing and advancing regional economic development initiatives.
The Country Pantry — Volunteer
I give back through hands-on volunteer and administrative services at The Country Pantry, supporting food access and community care for those in need.
ready to work together?
Let’s Start a Conversation
Whether you’re ready to engage or just exploring your options, I welcome the conversation. No pressure — just a genuine exchange about where you want to go and how I can help.