Kristi Hilbert
Kristi Hilbert is the CEO, Heroes Supporting Heroes and current National Civic Leader for the United States Air Force Chief of Staff.
A graduate of Clemson University, Kristi started her career at ITT Corp in New York and worked as a Marketing Executive in New York and New Jersey, where she earned her MBA at Rutgers University. She and her husband Brad Hilbert, moved to Pittsburgh in 2005 and started 3 Rivers Wealth Management Group (TRWMG) in late 2009. TRWMG is a financial advisory firm that works with individuals to meet their financial goals and also specializes in working with for profit and not-for-profit corporation retirement plans. In 2011, together the team opened 3 Rivers Tax and Business Services and the not-for-profit corporation Pittsburgh Bridges, Inc. in support of their companies and family’s philanthropic work.
Kristi is a staunch supporter of Active Duty, Reserve & National Guard military members, veterans and their families. Kristi serves as the co-chair of the Military Affairs Committee for the Pittsburgh Area Airport Chamber of Commerce and is a project lead for the Department of Defense Air Force Community Partnership at the 911th Airlift Wing. She also volunteers in various capacities with the Allegheny County Toys For Tots annual campaign for the US Marines Corps Reserve.
The Bridges Kids Club, a division of Pittsburgh Bridges, is an organization Kristi founded to allow children ages 5-19 the opportunity to participate in unique community service projects where they interact with children in need and are able to experience first hand the impact of selfless giving. The Bridges Kids Club signature event is Operation Santa, a carnival for military families where Kids Club members are paired with a military child’s Santa wishlist and earn $25 to select and purchase a gift. At the carnival event, civilian and military children meet and the gift is exchanged, allowing friendships to be forged and for Kids Club members to experience the joy they are able to give to another child. The project also helps to thank local service member families for their service and to instill the importance of gratitude for military service for a new generation. Beginning in 2013 with 50 military family members in attendance and 100 Kids Club volunteers, by 2019 the event hosted over 2,500 military family members and 300 Kids Club volunteers. The Kids Club also annually hosts multiple other events including Easter Bunny Airlines, which provides Easter Eggs for Easter Egg Hunts at multiple domestic violence shelters, homeless shelters, not-for-profit causes and military bases in western PA.
Kristi has been widely recognized for her leadership and philanthropic contributions to the Pittsburgh Community. In 2016 she received the Pittsburgh Business Times Woman First In Business Award, honoring women working in the region who've made a difference in their communities, blazed a trail for other women and are leaving a mark on the western Pennsylvania business community. Numerous commendations from local military units have been awarded over the years to Kristi & the Bridges Kids Club. Most notably in 2016, the Association of the United States Army honored Kristi with the Warrior Service Award for her dedication to the Pittsburgh military community. The Department of Defense and Employer Support the Guard & Reserve presented Kristi with the prestigious Seven Seals Award in 2017, for her meritorious leadership and initiative in support of the men and women who serve America in the National Guard and Reserve.
In 2019 Kristi was nominated and selected for the prestigious volunteer position of National Civic Leader for General Goldfein, the Chief Of Staff of the United States Air Force. In her role, Kristi and a dozen of her counterparts from around the country serve as unpaid advisors, key communicators and advocates for Air Force issues. They provide ideas and feedback and advise the Secretary of the United States Air Force, Air Force Chief of Staff, Chief of Space Operations and other senor leaders about how missions can best be accomplished in their respective areas and about public attitudes toward the Air and Space Force's activities.