Leading association management company doubles footprint in Downtown office, brings 47 new associations to D.C. and at least 60 new jobs.
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Kellen officially opened its headquarters, relocating from Atlanta to the association capital of the country, Washington, D.C., at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 18th in its expanded Washington, D.C., office in The National Press Building. This move enhances the association management company’s ability to provide structure, expert talent, and access for the more than 100 association clients it serves. As a result of Kellen’s move, 47 new associations are now headquartered in D.C.
“We are thrilled to welcome Kellen’s team to Washington, D.C. Kellen’s decision to bring its headquarters here is a win for our city and a win for Downtown,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser. “The future of Downtown is one centered on people – the people who work here, who live here, and who visit here. Now, Kellen – and the people and associations they represent – are part of that future.”
“Kellen holds a unique position in our industry because we offer both day-to-day management services for our clients and government affairs support. Providing this from Washington, D.C., gives our clients a significant advantage,” said Kellen CEO Travis Rush. “Moving our headquarters to the district gives us proximity and visibility to policy decision-makers and key agencies important to our clients. That’s a huge differentiator for Kellen and certainly something that no other city can offer.”
An awardee of the District’s Vitality Fund, Kellen has had a presence in Washington since 1990. This expansion includes doubling its current office footprint in The National Press Building at 1320 F Street NW and will also lead to the hiring of at least 50 new team members for that office within the next three years. Since last year, Kellen’s D.C. office has grown to nearly 100 full-time employees, including the following recent hires:
- Carla Saunders joins as the Group Vice President of Kellen’s food and nutrition vertical market. Formerly with Cargill, Schwan’s, Graco, and Nestlé, Carla focuses on developing and implementing marketing strategies that integrate cutting-edge nutritional science with market trends. Kellen’s experience and expertise in the food and nutrition vertical are unparalleled among association management companies and are now further elevated.
- Allison Cooke takes on the newly created role of Senior Vice President, Public Affairs. Formerly with the Corn Refiners Association and an active member of the Food and Beverage Industry Alliance (FBIA) for the past five years, Allison is well known within the regulatory space. Allison’s new role at Kellen focuses on regulatory affairs, guiding clients through the complexities of compliance and government regulations. Her deep understanding of the regulatory landscape and her strategic vision is instrumental in driving the division’s growth and elevating Kellen’s profile within the industry.
- Matthew Clark was appointed as the Senior Vice President in the Healthcare division. With more than 20 years of experience in healthcare management, policy development, and regulatory compliance, Matthew brings a wealth of knowledge and a track record of improving patient outcomes and streamlining operations. His leadership drives innovative solutions to help Kellen’s clients navigate the complexities of healthcare management and regulatory landscapes.
- Christy Levine is the newly named Senior Vice President of Association Management, also in the Healthcare division. A 20-year industry veteran within the nonprofit sector, Christy brings a dynamic leadership style that activates staff, empowers members, and generates excitement among board members of the associations she serves.
- Tim Welsh joins Kellen as Vice President of Association Management. Tim’s extensive background in building and construction is invaluable as he leads efforts to advance Kellen’s building materials division. His strategic vision and industry insights foster innovative solutions in building, construction, and infrastructure that meet industry standards and sustainability goals.
“These heavy-hitting hires, with more to come in the months ahead, reflect our commitment to growing our leadership and capabilities in our new Washington, D.C., headquarters, and signify the leadership depth we are building across multiple sectors,” said Kellen CEO Travis Rush.
About Kellen:
Kellen stands as a global leader in providing management and services to professional and trade organizations. We empower Board leaders by offering operational frameworks and strategic guidance to better serve their organization’s mission and vision. As a dedicated professional services company, we offer solutions to organizations, such as association management, public affairs, marketing, meeting management, education, and strategic communication. Leveraging our expertise across diverse industries including healthcare, food and beverage, buildings and materials, and technology, as well as our global perspective with a presence in North America and Europe, we collaborate with more than 100 organizations to help achieve their goals. Understanding the importance of a strong and effective Board of Directors, we offer customized management solutions that address the unique needs of each organization with which we partner. Kellen is headquartered in Washington, D.C. with additional offices in Chicago, Beijing and Brussels.
About the Vitality Fund
Created through a $10 million investment by Mayor Bowser, the Vitality Fund is a multi-year, performance-based incentive program designed to support companies in target industries that are actively planning to relocate, expand, or retain their physical location in Washington, DC, with a priority for Downtown. To learn more about resources and funding to support DC businesses, visit obviouslydc.com/vitalityfund.
Photo credit: Zach Miller
