Karolyn Gardner
Senior Vice President of Contracts and Pricing, ICF
Karolyn Gardner transformed the contracts, pricing and subcontracts team of professionals, elevating their caliber and strengthening their contribution to ICF’s success.
Gardner and her team are sought-after partners to the business, providing a balance in evaluation of risks with the opportunity for successful delivery.
One of her proudest achievements is the work her team has done to foster stronger partnerships with ICF’s internal business units and external partners through proactive cooperation and communication improving risk mitigation, contract compliance and project profitability. It is truly rewarding to see this team evolve, Gardner said.
Gardner has also been a leader in ICF’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging program since its inception to help maintain ICF’s unique, highly inclusive culture. She currently serves as executive sponsor for ICF’s veterans employee community network.
“Karolyn is a transformational leader who has helped elevate the contracts and administration team to a strategic level,” said James Morgan, ICF chief operating officer. “She has built a high-performing team that delivers innovative solutions and exceptional service to our business units and clients. She is a valued partner and a role model for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging at ICF.”
Why Watch
In 2024 and beyond, Gardner is focused on continuing to develop ICF’s existing talent and assessing ways to scale her team efficiently to support ICF’s growth. ICF is making a significant investment in both internal and external training resources to empower and cultivate its team. Senior leadership of ICF sees the value in investing in staff and has developed a detailed curriculum of training to help staff be more innovative in their problem solving.
Gardner is also deeply engaged in understanding how AI will impact the delivery of ICF’s client work and resulting terms, as well as transforming internal processes to review terms and assess risks more efficiently.
“Leadership entails empowerment and collaboration to achieve optimal results,” Gardner said. “It is deeply rewarding to work side-by-side with my staff as they navigate challenges, find new and creative solutions and grow as professionals.”
Fun fact: Gardner is a muscle car enthusiast. She owns three classic Ford Mustangs.