New York, NY – The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to announce the promotion of Kristi Martinez (formerly Munchel) from Director to Assistant Vice President (AVP) of the Internal Consulting Group, effective immediately.

AKC's Internal Consulting Group provides business consulting services to AKC divisions; identifies opportunities to improve efficiency, increase customer service and increase revenue; and develops future leaders through business training, sport exposure, and hands-on projects within various divisions.

Martinez joined the AKC in August 2003 as an ICG member and served as Senior Consultant for three years before her promotion to Director last July. As Director, she has made key contributions to the development of online services, including My AKC, Online Record Keeping, and Online Entries for Agility. She also managed the implementation of the Strategic Plan tactics and led the team responsible for the analysis of a mixed breed program. Other accomplishments include the development of the Full Litter Registration option and the creation of new products such as Puppy Folders and the Enhanced Competition Certificate.

Prior to joining the AKC, Martinez was a Program Analyst for the Budget Department of the City of Greensboro. She holds a Masters in Public Administration from North Carolina State University and a B.S. in Business Administration and Economics from University of North Carolina, Greensboro. She lives in Raleigh with her husband Eddie, and is the proud owner of a Havanese.

“Kristi has performed exceptionally well over the last year as the Director of the Internal Consulting Group,” said John Lyons, AKC's Chief Operating Officer. “I am pleased to recognize her hard work and I know that the ICG will continue to flourish and contribute to the growth of the AKC under her leadership.”