This is where Kelly will shine... once I've completed my profile. Stay tuned!

_Master of Professional Studies in Public Relations and Corporate Communications_

Georgetown University

_Master of Arts in Museum Studies with a focus on Collections Management_ and _Anthropology_

George washington university

_Bachelor of Science in Anthropology, Minor in Religious Studies_

Virginia Commonwealth University

Leads a local arts non-profit that employs artists to teach creative expression and life skills to people in need. A team of improv instructors, visual artists, singers, creative writers, and public speakers provide a safe place for people who are incarcerated, transitioning, and experiencing homelessness to share their stories and make their voices heard.

News announcement of Kelly Carnes being named the new Executive Director of Heard, a non-profit that brings the arts to people in need.

Heard, Alexandria Nonprofit Teaching Life Skills Through Art, Names Kelly Carnes Executive Director.pdf

Executive Director

Built and launched the world’s first peer-to-peer costume rental e-commerce platform

ShoutOut Atlanta interviews Kelly Carnes, CEO and Founder of Trove Costumes.

Trove, the world’s first peer-to-peer costume rental platform – SHOUTOUT ATLANTA.pdf

Founder and CEO

Provide consultation services for high-level Public Relations and Event Planning projects for more than 45 clients, ranging across a diverse array of industries both in the commercial and nonprofit space including the Smithsonian Latino Center and Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Built a successful $750k revenue-producing company from scratch.

Media Report for MermagiCon - America's Largest Mermaid Convention - and one of Carnes&Co's more than 50 clients since 2017.

MermagicCon Media Report 2019 - Google Docs.pdf

*   Participated with the Executive Director and CEO/Founder in providing executive leadership and direction for overall planning, development, and management of a brand new museum dedicated to words and language. 
*   Provided direct oversight of the Development fundraising effort, the Marketing and Communications outreach, the private Event Rentals business, and the Public Programs activities. This includes monitoring and approving budget expenditures, identifying opportunities for increasing revenues and reducing costs to maximize operational and financial efficiency. 
*   Served as chief talent officer, recruiting and training top tier talent to meet strategic plan initiatives, priorities and changing needs in a start-up environment through a robust DEIA lens. 
*   Directed and coordinates the activities of subordinate offices with clear direct communication and transparency, while enhancing operational excellence through project and resource management and by implementing policies, standards and procedures that align with current best practices. 
*   Directly supervised key senior supervisory staff at the Director and Manager levels, setting clear expectations and goals and reviewing performance regularly. 
*   Represented the Executive Director and CEO/Founder at Planet Word events, board, committee, and staff meetings as well as with community partners, federal and local government representatives, donors and other key stakeholders. 
*   Worked in tandem with the Education Department, community partners, educational organizations and media outlets to develop joint programming with national impact. 
*   Directed and oversees pan-organizational projects requiring strong internal communications, collaboration, and management across a variety of diverse departments and initiatives.

New York Times article on the Planet Word Museum being a post-pandemic Must-See Museum in DC.

Things to Do in Washington, D.C. - The New York Times.pdf

Deputy Director

Served as spokesperson for all non-classical programming at the Kennedy Center including managing the red carpet for signature events like the Kennedy Center Honors, Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, Spring Gala, and representing the Reach Project, Education, Theater, Ballet, Dance, Comedy, Jazz, Hip Hop, International Festivals, Arts Summit, Millennium Stage, and the JFK Centennial.

I ran the red carpet for the Kennedy Center's 3 signature annual events, the Spring Gala, The Mark Twain Prize, and the illustrious Kennedy Center Honors.

Photos_ Kennedy Center Honors 2016 gala - Los Angeles Times.pdf

Director of Public Relations

Served as spokesperson for the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden during a challenging leadership turnover and the Museum’s 40th anniversary.

Artnet coverage of the Hirshhorn's 40th anniversary celebration.

Theaster Gates Takes Center Stage at Hirshhorn Museum’s 40th Anniversary Gala.pdf

Director of Communications and Marketing

Responsible for placements in top tier national and international news outlets including: _History Channel, The Discovery Channel, National Geographic, BBC, PBS, NBC, FOX News, ABC News, Associated Press, NPR, The Today Show, Smithsonian Channel, Voice of America, QVC, Telemundo, Univision, EFE News,_ and _CNN+ Spain_.

New Smithsonian Ocean Hall opens Saturday.pdf

Senior Press Officer

Facilitated all filming around the Smithsonian Institution for the newly-minted Smithsonian Channel logging 200+ filming hours at the 19 museums, research centers and the National Zoo.

Smithsonian magazine article on major film project.

Kelly Carnes

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