Kim Watson

Kim Watson joined the ATA team as its membership director in June 2023. She develops, directs and executes the ATA membership strategic plan and budget. She also collaborates with stakeholders and works with sales and marketing teams to develop business objectives, concepts, deliverables and timelines necessary to achieve membership goals.

Watson has a bachelor’s degree from Southern Methodist University. She started her career in the art industry and after a few years she transitioned to working for associations. She worked as the membership director at the Dallas Bar Association for over 12 years. There, she managed and streamlined the new member application and renewal process, and researched and oversaw the implementation of a new Association Management software program. For the past two years, she led the membership team at the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association. She focused her time on member retention efforts and assisted 33 state affiliate associations with membership outreach and support.

Watson grew up moving all over the country and lived in nine states before turning 18. She fell in love with Texas and currently lives near Dallas with her husband and five children – twin girls and three boys. Watson’s involved with local animal rescue groups and has several rescue dogs and two rescue cats. She also owns a horse, which reminds her of the many years she spent training for and competing in Hunter/Jumper horse shows.

In her free time, Watson enjoys running and volunteering. She’s completed two half marathons and many local 5K and 10K charity runs. She is a State Fair of Texas Youth Livestock Leadership Council member and spends many hours on the SFOT Youth Livestock Committee assisting student exhibitors and their families.