Kelly O’Brien

Vice President, Communications and Marketing

Kelly O’Brien is Vice President of Communications and Marketing for the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago. In this capacity, Kelly oversees all external communications including media and community relations, strategic advertising and brand management, creative editorial and design services and internal communications.

With more than 20 years of public service, Kelly’s professional past has been focused engaging donors, the media, public officials and the community. Most recently, she was Executive Director for the non-profit organization Girls on the Run-Chicago where she tripled the budget, the number of programs and the volunteers. A native Illinoisan, she has held senior positions in both in Federal Legislative and Executive Branches of government in Washington DC, including working for Representative Jerry Kleczka, Senator Richard Durbin, and at the Department of Health and Human Services for the Director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Kelly was Associate Executive Director of Public Affairs at the American Public Health Association before moving to Chicago to work for Wilhelm and Conlon Public Strategies as Vice President, counseling nonprofit clients on media relations, community organizing and advocacy in Springfield and Chicago.

Kelly has a Master’s in Public Administration from the George Washington School of Business and a B.A. from St. Mary’s College at Notre Dame. She has served on multiple boards and is currently on the Board of United Way of Illinois. Kelly grew up in Aurora, IL. She loves loud music, a good book, running, biking, swimming, sunshine, and most all things outdoors. She is passionate about politics, public health, physical activity, adventures, public service, and getting people excited about all of the above.