About Us

​Karen McNamara is a Chicago-based public policy and management advisor with a proven record of strengthening complex systems and helping organizations lead with clarity and purpose.

As a Managing Partner of Skyline Advisory Partners, she brings more than 15 years of experience directing large-scale federal programs, advancing policy, and advising leaders across the early childhood and public sector landscape.

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Before launching Skyline Advisory Partners, Karen served as a Regional Program Director with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Head Start, where she provided executive oversight for $1.86 billion in annual Head Start funding, ensuring high-quality services for more than 100,000 children and families across six states. Throughout her tenure with the Administration for Children and Families, Karen built a record of driving operational excellence, leading large interdisciplinary teams, and translating complex policy into actionable strategy. Her leadership has guided federal staff, contractors, and local grantees toward improved compliance, performance, and community impact. A trusted advisor in early learning and systems-building, she has contributed to national policy development and advanced regulations that strengthened program quality nationwide.

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Karen’s approach combines policy fluency, operational know-how, and a deep respect for the human impact of public systems. She partners with organizations to strengthen capacity, modernize compliance structures, and position teams for long-term success in a shifting policy environment.

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Earlier in her career, Karen taught middle school math and science in Chicago Public Schools, where she launched a student leadership program that brought young scholars from Englewood to Washington, D.C. That hands-on experience continues to inform her work bridging federal vision with community needs.

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Karen holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy and a Bachelor of Science in Education from Loyola University Chicago. She lives in Chicago with her husband and three children.

​Beth Fuller is a seasoned federal program and organizational leader with more than 15 years of experience advancing early childhood systems, program performance, and strategic operations across the public sector.

 

As a Managing Partner with Skyline Advisory Partners, she brings a deep understanding of federal grants management, compliance, and program improvement — helping organizations align vision, policy, and practice to deliver stronger outcomes for children and families.

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Before launching Skyline Advisory Partners, Beth served as a Regional Program Manager with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Head Start, where she oversaw $1.86 billion in annual Head Start funding across six Midwest states. Her leadership guided more than 290 grant recipients and improved outcomes for over 100,000 children and families. In that capacity, she directed program oversight for multi-state portfolios, led interdisciplinary teams of federal staff and contractors, and guided grantees through complex operational, fiscal, and governance challenges. Her leadership was defined by her steady, solutions-focused approach — building capacity, fostering collaboration, and translating policy into practice.

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Known for her integrity, insight, and calm problem-solving style, Beth partners with organizations to strengthen management systems, analyze data, and design forward-looking strategies that sustain quality and compliance.

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Earlier in her career, Beth served as a management consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton, where she supported federal clients on program design, strategic planning, and organizational improvement initiatives. She also began her professional journey in the classroom, teaching early learners and building a firsthand understanding of the educational environments and community contexts that inform her systems-level work today.

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Beth holds a Master's in Public Administration from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Spanish Language and Literature from Marquette University. Additionally, she has earned professional certifications in Project Management and Grants Management. She lives in Oak Park, Illinois with her husband and three children.