Kelly Carey
OWIG Member of the Month
Hometown: Springfield, Ohio
Place of Work: Carpenter Lipps & Leland, Public Policy Team
Tenure at Current Place of Work: 2.5 years
OWIG Involvement: member for 2 years, participant before that; member of the Steering Committee for 1 year
Kelly came into the government affairs field somewhat by accident, during her final year of college when she was offered a position in the office of State Rep. Merle Grace Kearns. Not knowing exactly if it was the right move for her, Kelly told her boss that she would give her one year. Now, many years later, she is still in government affairs, mostly because it is a field in which she can regularly partner with others and be a part of lifting people up. Her career has moved her through all branches of the legislative arena - a state agency, the legislature, the private sector - and she believes each experience provided opportunities for her to improve and grow. Within each of those positions, Kelly’s primary goal as a professional was always to be the person others could come to for assistance, especially in making something better.
In summarizing her career, Kelly is quick to point out that she has always worked with extremely intelligent, selfless, kind and hardworking people. But anyone who knows Kelly knows she gives the same back, and more. Her social media friends have regular evidence that Kelly is an incredibly loving, devoted mother to her son, whose escapades and milestones are a frequent feature on her Facebook profile. But that kind of character aligns well with Kelly’s personal motto: to “be kind and considerate to everyone you meet, because you never know when your paths will cross again.” She adds that OWIG has been a “stellar” place for those kinds of connections, providing a place where women can “learn, lift and work together.”