Who we are

Three women sitting together on a striped ottoman, smiling at the camera, against a plain white background.

With our depth of experience in organizational leadership, management science, psychology, wellness and design, our team embeds with yours to co-create meetings that work.

A woman with long dark hair, smiling, sitting on a black couch with her arm resting on the back of the couch, near a window with frosted glass.

Sarah Kurtz McKinnon

Principal

Sarah’s background as a journalist, summer camp director, and organizational scholar inform almost every aspect of Fishfly’s work. She embeds with the client and asks great questions to fully understand their culture and needs; she places great value on immersive learning  experiences where people can not just participate but engage; she has spent almost a decade studying how and why people thrive in organizational contexts and strives to bring that science to every group she meets.

Sarah earned her BS from Northwestern University, graduating cum laude. She then went on to a career in the non-profit space, becoming the youngest YMCA sleepaway camp executive in the country when she directed Ann Arbor YMCA Camp Al-Gon-Quian from 2009-2015. After leaving the Y, she earned her MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, graduating with high honors. At Ross, she was a lead fellow with the Center for Positive Organizations and co-authored an award-winning case on staff motivation, published by Harvard University. During this time, she also became a nationally-recognized consultant and speaker across the summer camp industry and co-founded a professional development collective for camp leaders.

After graduating in 2018, Sarah launched her professional facilitation business, designing and leading countless retreats and workshops. She also has been a member of various teaching teams at Ross for graduate and undergraduate courses in management, organizational science, leadership, and negotiations. 

She lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with her husband, two daughters, and two dogs.

A smiling woman with dark hair wearing a white button-up shirt sitting in an office chair in a well-lit room.

Carly Thanhouser

Senior Consultant

Carly Thanhouser is a behavioral scientist who applies principles of behavioral economics, behavior change theory, and motivational interviewing to inform facilitation design, develop tailored content, and promote generative behavior change and informed decision-making. Carly earned her BS in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her MPH from the University of Michigan.

One of Carly’s special interests is improving awareness and understanding of mental health so that those who are struggling feel supported and equipped to get to the other side. She is an action-oriented strategic thinker interested in developing user-centric and innovative solutions to organizational challenges. Carly has a strong academic research background, including a graduate certificate in quantitative methods, and 3+ years of client-facing custom strategic research experience.

A woman with light brown hair, glasses, wearing a black short-sleeved top and gold jewelry, smiling and sitting on a dark gray sofa.

Katharine Drake

Consultant

Katharine Drake is a teaching artist and maker with a passion for building community through creativity. She began her professional journey at YMCA Camp Al-Gon-Quian, where she worked alongside Sarah as both the head of the arts program and later as head chef.

After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Ceramics from the University of Michigan, Katharine began teaching ceramics to youth in Detroit through a variety of school and community-based programs. Her work eventually led her west to Portland, Oregon, where she developed a deep commitment to supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She focused on community integration and workplace inclusion, eventually managing employment programs designed to provide effective, individualized job supports for adults with developmental disabilities.

Now back in her home state of Michigan, Katharine provides administrative and event management support while continuing to pursue her passion for creative community engagement.

In her free time, Katharine enjoys working with textiles—particularly quilting and knitting—and spending time with her husband and daughter in Ypsilanti, MI.

Contact us

Ready to make your meetings energizing and impactful? Let’s craft a thoughtful, engaging experience that brings your team together—reach out today!