Kelly O’Brien, Director of Public Affairs for the Economic Development Administration (EDA), serves as the liaison for the Secretary of Commerce to the nation’s leaders of business, government and academia regarding American competitiveness.

At EDA, Kelly is responsible for overseeing all aspects of internal and external communications and public relations activities. As the lead Press Secretary for the Assistant Secretary, she executes aggressive communications outreach to both local and national media, including print, radio and broadcast. She has been recognized for achieving saturation with mission and management message objectives as outlined by the policy team. Her service at the Department of Commerce has been highlighted by organizing two national competitiveness summits.

As part of her responsibilities, Kelly plans, budgets and executes all EDA’s communications activities including a national outreach campaign with over 40,000 invested stakeholders. Included in this campaign is the dissemination of a monthly electronic newsletter as well as a quarterly print publication and television show which focus on best practices in economic development. Since her involvement in this outreach campaign, viewership and dissemination has increased tenfold.

Prior to joining the President’s team, Kelly was an Associate of a New York investment banking firm where she specialized in municipal bond finance. After completing law school, she was the Director of the Government Policy and Practice Group at a large Midwestern law firm. She has been involved in every level of political campaigns from school board races to Presidential elections, in several states.

Kelly also served in the George H. W. Bush administration in communication and congressional affairs capacities. She began her career in the Office of Communications for the First Lady and then became Special Assistant to the Director of Congressional Affairs at the Interstate Commerce Commission.

Kelly received her bachelor’s in Political Communications from The George Washington University and her J.D. from Loyola University, Chicago. She is a former elected official in Illinois, serving as Alderman of the 4th Ward of Palos Hills and as Chairman of the Economic Development Committee.