Sparking Ideas. Creating Solutions.
Making Things Happen.

Developing new initiatives. Driving economic impact. Building partnerships at global, state-wide and local levels. Nina B. Winston Consulting and her team bring decades of experience in civic affairs, nonprofit tourism and economic development to your next project.

Contact us.

Sparking Ideas. Creating Solutions.
Making Things Happen.

Developing new initiatives. Driving economic impact. Building partnerships at global, state-wide and local levels. Nina B. Winston Consulting and her team bring decades of experience in civic affairs, nonprofit tourism and economic development to your next project.

Contact us.

Meet Nina Winston.

Nina Winston brings three decades of executive and leadership experience in the civic, nonprofit and tourism sectors to her work at Nina B. Winston Consulting. Her deep experience in economic development, strategic partnerships and project leadership, along with her Harvard University training, benefits a diverse range of clients in solving critical organizational issues.

Prior to starting her consulting practice in 2021, Nina was Executive Vice President for Washington D.C. based Destinations International—the world’s largest resource for convention and visitor bureaus—where she oversaw global development, strategic alliances and member- and-partner relations.

 

Nina is based in Chicago, a place she is thrilled to call home, and a city that has been integral to her career. As Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Choose Chicago, the city’s tourism marketing arm, Nina supported the organization’s goal of bringing regional, national and international business and leisure visitors to Chicago for its economic benefit. In this role, she delivered more than $15 million in new revenue from public and private partnerships, including those involving Fortune 100 companies, and state and local governments.

Nina asserts a practical, innovative and collaborative approach to consulting. She excels at tackling complex challenges, developing new and impactful programs, and building strategic relationships. She is a graduate of Harvard Kennedy School, where she earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration.

As one who cares deeply about making a difference in her community, Nina supports some of Chicago’s premier arts and cultural organizations in her volunteer leadership roles, including Steppenwolf Theatre Company and Lincoln Park Zoo. For the latter, she successfully raised more than $1.5 million as co-chair of the zoo’s annual fundraiser in 2023.

Nina knows how to build the car and drive it. Let her help you with your next organizational challenge!

Chicago River

Meet Nina Winston.

Nina Winston brings three decades of executive and leadership experience in the civic, nonprofit and tourism sectors to her work at Nina B. Winston Consulting. Her deep experience in economic development, strategic partnerships and project leadership, along with her Harvard University training, benefits a diverse range of clients in solving critical organizational issues.

Prior to starting her consulting practice in 2021, Nina was Executive Vice President for Washington D.C. based Destinations International—the world’s largest resource for convention and visitor bureaus—where she oversaw global development, strategic alliances and member- and-partner relations.

 

Chicago River

 

Nina is based in Chicago, a place she is thrilled to call home, and a city that has been integral to her career. As Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Choose Chicago, the city’s tourism marketing arm, Nina supported the organization’s goal of bringing regional, national and international business and leisure visitors to Chicago for its economic benefit. In this role, she delivered more than $15 million in new revenue from public and private partnerships, including those involving Fortune 100 companies, and state and local governments.

Nina asserts a practical, innovative and collaborative approach to consulting. She excels at tackling complex challenges, developing new and impactful programs, and building strategic relationships. She is a graduate of Harvard Kennedy School, where she earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration.

As one who cares deeply about making a difference in her community, Nina supports some of Chicago’s premier arts and cultural organizations in her volunteer leadership roles, including Steppenwolf Theatre Company and Lincoln Park Zoo. For the latter, she successfully raised more than $1.5 million as co-chair of the zoo’s annual fundraiser in 2023.

Nina knows how to build the car and drive it. Let her help you with your next organizational challenge!

Client and Colleague Reviews.

“It has been my pleasure to have worked with Nina for eight years; most recently leading strategic alliances at Destinations International, and before that heading up partner engagement at Choose Chicago. Nina built a strong portfolio of core business partners at both organizations by providing solid and comprehensive plans with key deliverables designed to support these relationships globally.”

 

“Nina’s understanding of civic projects and programs combined with her ability to lead community engagement efforts brings positive impact and results. She sees opportunities and connections that others might miss.”

 

Alicia Berg

Assistant Vice President, Campus Planning + Sustainability at The University of Chicago
“Nina is an out of the box leader and thinker. Her expertise in global initiatives, board relations, relationship building and bringing new initiatives to life strengthens and deepens the scope and impact of organizations.”

 

“Nina’s strategic and collaborative approach in launching new, multi-stakeholder initiatives empowered our team to move forward with a common vision when the James Beard Foundation Awards relocated to Chicago from New York City in 2015. Her understanding of the nonprofit sector coupled with her expertise in civic affairs and tourism laid the groundwork for our success in Chicago.”

 

David Bowen

President & Founder, Bowen & Company, Producer, James Beard Foundation Awards
“I’ve been lucky enough to work with Nina over several years, in several roles, on several different partnerships. She immediately understood my organization’s goals, connected the dots with broader initiatives, and effectively drove everything through to implementation. Nina also understands the greater context that organizations operate in, and the impacts on cities, their residents and visitors at the local and global levels. She’s that rare combination of a big thinker and a doer. ”

 

“Nina has the unique ability to bring people together, break through silos and see new opportunities for destinations and their stakeholders. Her understanding of the global business events space is accompanied by a personal perspective and approach that develops into new partnerships and innovative solutions.”

 

“What always amazes me about Nina — and what I really appreciate — is her unique ability to see possibilities and opportunities that no one else sees. She is not only creative with great ideas and the big picture but is one of those rare souls who can not only conceive but also execute to bring the idea to fruition. So often “sort of” ideas that may have merit, languish and are never implemented. Nina is one with the vision to see something others don’t and execute on the concept... with very favorable results.”

 

“Over many years working together, Nina helped us grow the impact and value of our partnerships, increasing measurable results for all stakeholders. She knows how to identify key areas of alignment and build productive relationships.”

 

“It has been my pleasure to have worked with Nina for eight years; most recently leading strategic alliances at Destinations International, and before that heading up partner engagement at Choose Chicago. Nina built a strong portfolio of core business partners at both organizations by providing solid and comprehensive plans with key deliverables designed to support these relationships globally.”

 

“Nina’s understanding of civic projects and programs combined with her ability to lead community engagement efforts brings positive impact and results. She sees opportunities and connections that others might miss.” 

Alicia Berg

Assistant Vice President, Campus Planning + Sustainability at The University of Chicago
“Nina is an out of the box leader and thinker. Her expertise in global initiatives, board relations, relationship building and bringing new initiatives to life strengthens and deepens the scope and impact of organizations.”

 

“Nina’s strategic and collaborative approach in launching new, multi-stakeholder initiatives empowered our team to move forward with a common vision when the James Beard Foundation Awards relocated to Chicago from New York City in 2015. Her understanding of the nonprofit sector coupled with her expertise in civic affairs and tourism laid the groundwork for our success in Chicago.”

David Bowen

President & Founder, Bowen & Company, Producer, James Beard Foundation Awards
“I’ve been lucky enough to work with Nina over several years, in several roles, on several different partnerships. She immediately understood my organization’s goals, connected the dots with broader initiatives, and effectively drove everything through to implementation. Nina also understands the greater context that organizations operate in, and the impacts on cities, their residents and visitors at the local and global levels. She’s that rare combination of a big thinker and a doer. ”

 

“Nina has the unique ability to bring people together, break through silos and see new opportunities for destinations and their stakeholders. Her understanding of the global business events space is accompanied by a personal perspective and approach that develops into new partnerships and innovative solutions.”

 

“What always amazes me about Nina — and what I really appreciate — is her unique ability to see possibilities and opportunities that no one else sees. She is not only creative with great ideas and the big picture but is one of those rare souls who can not only conceive but also execute to bring the idea to fruition. So often “sort of” ideas that may have merit, languish and are never implemented. Nina is one with the vision to see something others don’t and execute on the concept… with very favorable results.”

 

“Over many years working together, Nina helped us grow the impact and value of our partnerships, increasing measurable results for all stakeholders. She knows how to identify key areas of alignment and build productive relationships.”

 

Client Categories.

Nina Winston, the founder of Nina B. Winston Consulting, brings decades of experience in developing new initiatives, driving economic impact and building partnerships at global, state-wide and local levels. Her expertise focuses on three core areas:

Civic

As a former executive for both civic organizations and their outside advisors, Nina contributes internal experience and external perspective to consulting projects. With a deep understanding of public sector organizations, she adeptly works with clients to achieve impactful approaches to mission-critical endeavors.

NONPROFIT

Nina collaborates with nonprofit organizations to help them fuse their mission and vision with meaningful goals to achieve tangible results. She has a deep understanding of 501(c)(6) and 501(c)(3) organizations, state and local government, and how these entities interface with the corporate sector.

TRAVEL & TOURISM

Her work as an executive vice president at the world’s largest resource for destination organizations, coupled with her experience leading strategic partnerships and initiatives at state and city levels, allows Nina to design solutions for destinations seeking to elevate tourism and drive economic growth.

“What amazes me about Nina – and what I really appreciate – is her unique ability to see opportunities and possibilities that no one else sees. She is not only creative, with great ideas and the big picture, but is one of those rare souls who cannot only see but execute to bring the idea to fruition.”

Brad Lewis
Director at Nevada Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission

Let’s work together.

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