About Niki
Connection is where progress begins.
With 15+ years of professional experience, Niki Hitt brings together people, programs, and community priorities—helping good ideas find the relationships and structure they need to move forward.
Career story
Experience built across sectors. A focus that keeps moving toward connection.
Niki’s career spans business development and sales, nonprofit development, fundraising, events, marketing, programs, partnerships, workforce and community initiatives, and stakeholder engagement.
Early success in business and sales built a practical foundation in relationship development, customer needs, and measurable growth. She later brought those strengths to nonprofit fundraising as Development Director with the American Heart Association, where her work included the Northwest Indiana Heart Walk, corporate partnerships, sponsorships, volunteer leadership, event logistics, and fundraising. Fundraising goals were exceeded during that role.
That progression led into marketing and program leadership, then increasingly into workforce pathways, cross-sector partnerships, and regional community initiatives. Today, Niki serves as Marketing and Program Director — Hydrant Pet Center and Executive Director of Development — Dogs 4 U Inc.
Across current roles and collaborative initiatives, her strength is seeing where people, resources, and ideas can support one another. She helps create introductions, shared understanding, and practical next steps while continuing to develop Hitt Public Strategies as a secondary, evolving consulting brand.
Her approach is grounded in listening first, communicating clearly, and building relationships that serve the work—not just the moment.
Formal current roles
Hydrant Pet Center
Marketing and Program Director
Dogs 4 U Inc.
Executive Director of Development
Collaborations & initiatives
Humane Society of Hobart, NWICAP and the Crown Point Community Foundation One Million Dollar Grant Challenge, READY NWI, and Highland/Griffith Chamber of Commerce committees are collaboration and participation contexts—not employers. Hydrant Grooming Academy is part of Niki’s workforce and program work through Hydrant Pet Center.
“I believe some of the strongest solutions already exist in our communities. Sometimes the missing piece is simply connecting the right people, resources and ideas.”
Start a conversation
Good work starts with a connection.
If you’re working on a program, partnership, community initiative or project that could benefit from stronger outreach, collaboration or strategic support, I’d love to connect.