
Kristi Garner Thomasson
Treasurer
As the Treasurer, Kristi is responsible for maintaining accurate financial statements and budgets; ensuring stewardship of the funds from donors; working collaboratively with other board members to ensure that financial targets are achieved; and serving as a thoughtful strategic partner to the Executive Committee and full Board. The Treasurer is a member of the Executive Committee and leads the Finance Committee.
Kristi is a high-energy financial executive with a 28-year career track record of driving financial and operational improvements in both growth and challenging economic environments. In addition to being technically strong and hands-on with a deep background in accounting, finance, and internal controls, her experience includes a broad base of operations management, safety, and quality systems, lean six sigma, material control, logistics, global operations, and strategic planning. She has extensive global experience, including selling, distributing, and manufacturing both consumer and industrial products in North America, Europe, Africa, Latin America, and Asia in both developed and developing markets. She has led the acquisition of companies in Asia and North America, while managing joint ventures in Asia. She retired from Duracell Batteries as Chief Financial Officer at the end of 2020, following an 11-year career with Berkshire Hathaway and including five years with Marmon Holdings as Sector CFO. Before joining Berkshire Hathaway, Kristi had a 15-year career with Sea Ray Boats holding positions of increasing responsibility including Plant Controller, Operations Manager, Director of Financial Planning & Analysis, and Chief Financial Officer. Kristi holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance, a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, and is a CPA (inactive). Kristi is currently a board director for Wahl Clipper Corporation and is Chair of their Audit Committee.
Kristi is married to her husband, Ryan, of 17 years and they have two furry children – a Caucasian Mountain Shepherd and a Leonberger. Kristi and Ryan share hobbies of hiking, mountain biking, boating, camping, and skiing. Kristi was born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee at the base of the Great Smoky Mountains by her father (a machinist) and her mother (a teacher’s assistant), who both instilled in Kristi a strong work ethic, faith, and possibilities mindset. Kristi’s values are trust & integrity, autonomy, building meaningful relationships, continuous improvement, joyful sacrifice, and adventure.
McCall Story
Ryan and I discovered McCall in 2016 on summer vacation, while living in Chicago. After returning every summer for vacation and spending a couple of winter vacations in McCall, we purchased property in 2019 for retirement and moved in 2020. We began the next chapter of our careers in full-time service to those in need, preparing for mission aviation charitable work as Ryan is a pilot and flight instructor. In addition to offering the beautiful, active mountain lifestyle that we love, Idaho is the 2nd best place in the US to train pilots for mission aviation work. On top of that, the best mentor that Ryan could have on his journey to becoming an expert backcountry pilot is right here in McCall.
Why the Ponderosa Center?
McCall is truly “heaven on earth” and frankly all it is missing is a Gathering Place that will strengthen our sense of community year-round for all ages and income levels, enabling us to have fun, to learn, to build relationships and make our lives fuller. The fact that Our Gathering Place sits on beautiful Payette Lake against the majestic mountain backdrop is icing on the cake.