Mary E. Kelly
Scottsdale,AZ
Summary
Dynamic CEO with a proven track record in executive leadership, driving companies toward sustainable growth and innovation. Expertise in implementing strategic initiatives that enhance operational efficiencies and foster a collaborative culture. Recognized for excellence in team dynamics and strategic decision-making, consistently delivering results aligned with organizational goals. Committed to leveraging industry insights to navigate challenges and seize opportunities in a rapidly evolving business landscape.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
President & CEO
Strata Tech Education Group
Phoenix, AZ
01.2010 - 01.2025
- Oversaw 5 schools under the Tulsa Welding School brand (Tulsa, OK; Jacksonville, Florida, Houston, TX and Dallas, TX) and the Refrigeration School Inc. brand in Phoenix, AZ with approximately 5,500 students and over 500 staff.
- Created and funded a variety of workforce development programs utilizing county and city agencies.
- Developed strategic initiatives to enhance educational offerings and align with industry standards.
- Led cross-functional teams to implement innovative programs, improving student engagement and success rates.
- Established partnerships with key stakeholders to expand market reach and enhance brand visibility.
- Streamlined operational processes, resulting in increased efficiency and reduced overhead costs across departments.
- Mentored senior leadership team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and professional growth.
- Analyzed educational trends and data to inform decision-making and drive program development strategies.
- Spearheaded community outreach efforts, enhancing relationships with local organizations and increasing enrollment opportunities.
- Oversaw budget management and resource allocation, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and sustainability initiatives.
- Hired and managed employees to maximize productivity while training staff on best practices and protocols.
- Increased customer satisfaction through continuous improvement initiatives and excellent customer service.
- Managed crisis situations effectively while minimizing disruption to daily operations.
- Enhanced company performance by implementing strategic plans and overseeing daily operations.
- Prepared annual budget forecasts and monitored performance to meet organizational objectives.
- Drove revenue growth by expanding product offerings and identifying new market opportunities.
- Cultivated strong relationships with external partners to foster collaboration and maximize resources.
- Established a culture of accountability by setting clear expectations and holding individuals responsible for results.
- Built a diverse workforce through targeted recruiting efforts focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion principles.
- Navigated complex regulatory environments while maintaining compliance across all aspects of the organization''s operations.
Group Vice President
Lincoln Educational Services
Atlanta, GA, St. Petersburg, FL, Orlando, FL, Dayton, Franklin, Cincinnati, Toledo OH and Florence KY
01.2004 - 01.2010
- Oversaw budget allocation and resource management, optimizing financial performance organization-wide.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to drive curriculum development aligned with industry standards.
- Established key performance indicators to measure program effectiveness and student outcomes.
- Cultivated partnerships with external stakeholders to expand educational opportunities for students.
- Analyzed market trends to inform strategic planning and positioning of educational offerings.
- Managed budget allocation across multiple departments to optimize resource utilization and support financial targets.
- Negotiated contracts with key vendors, securing favorable terms that supported long-term business objectives.
- Implemented innovative marketing strategies, contributing to increased brand awareness and market share gains.
- Delivered consistent revenue growth through diligent execution of strategic initiatives and effective management of the group portfolio.
- Directed multi-million dollar projects from inception to completion, delivering exceptional results on time and within budget constraints.
- Spearheaded change management efforts, enabling smooth transitions during organizational restructuring periods.
- Drove innovation initiatives by creating an internal culture that encouraged creative thinking and problem-solving approaches.
- Launched new product lines resulting in significant revenue generation for the company.
- Provided strong leadership to enhance team productivity and morale.
- Executed appropriate staffing and budgetary plans to align with business forecasts.
- Maintained P&L and shouldered corporate fiscal responsibility.
Manager
Health Training Center
Cambridge, MA
01.2003 - 01.2004
- Oversaw operations for 1,500 postsecondary certificate-seeking students
- Developed and oversaw million-dollar budget.
- Created and implemented marketing plan and strategies.
- Developed partnerships with healthcare organizations to expand training opportunities and reach.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by resolving disputes promptly, maintaining open lines of communication, and ensuring high-quality service delivery.
Director of Education
Girl Scouts of Southeastern Massachusetts
Middleboro, MA
01.2002 - 01.2003
- Oversaw all Planning, Activities and Volunteers formGSSM.
- Created and implemented new curriculum/activities for older teen girls that were more relevant and interesting for them
- Collaborated with community partners to expand outreach and engagement initiatives.
- Developed and implemented educational programs aligned with organizational goals.
- Built rapport with young clients and families using tailored emails and newsletters.
- Led development and execution of innovative educational programs, significantly raising quality of learning.
- Developed partnerships with parents, businesses and organizations to build awareness, increase support and share resources.
Chief Academic Officer
American Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay
Boston, MA
01.2000 - 01.2002
- Directed and coordinated all matters pertaining to curriculum, faculty, instruction, instructional materials, facility utilization and needs, evaluation of program and faculty, educational offerings, new program and development, instructional budgets and market/sales plans.
- Coordinated and supervised all aspects of the instructional programs of the ARC of Massachusetts Bay Training Institute.
- Supervised and monitored 55 employees.
- Developed and executed a $3.5 million dollar budget.
- Wrote 3 proposals that were awarded: 1) contract with Boston Public Schools for School to Career , 2) Nurses Aid training, a collaborative grant with five nursing homes for Workplace Training Funds and 3) a small grant for Legalization and Citizenship classes.
- Created two programs that received additional funding through corporate sponsors: A contextual ESL program for students enrolled in the Certified Nurses Aid program and a Business Education program.
- Wrote grant to Compaq for Computer Lab which was awarded.
- Restructured and revamped training programs to achieve a 15% increase in training revenue from the previous year while keeping cost the same.
Campus Director
New School University
Malta, NY
01.1997 - 01.2000
- Responsible for the administrative oversight of the campus
- (A satellite branch for New School University in Manhattan offering both baccalaureate and graduate degrees.)
- Campus generated consistent profits during time of tenure, with revenue exceeding operating costs by at least 34%
- Designed and implemented an innovative marketing plan that increased enrollments by 30% utilizing an advertising budget of only $4,000.
- Initiated a collaborative agreement with RPI's School of Engineering that led to a substantial reduction in rental appropriations.
- Researched and wrote proposals for new programs to be offered on both the Saratoga Branch campus and on other branch campuses which were approved by the state Education Department.
- Initiated the effort to provide distance learning to off campus students which led to the offering of BS and MS degrees online.
- Developed and oversaw the strategic planning process for the campus.
Education
Master of Science - Educational Administration and Policy Studies
State University of New York at Albany
Albany, NY05-1997
Master of Arts - English Education
State University of New York at Albany
Albany, NY05-1993
Bachelor of Arts - English and Psychology
State University of New York at Albany
Albany, NY05-1986
Skills
- Leadership team building
- Organizational leadership
- Operational excellence
- Crisis management
- Staff training
- Sales and marketing
- Budget management
- Negotiation
- Business development
- Public speaking
- Coaching and mentoring
- Stakeholder engagement
Accomplishments
- Invented OcuWeld, a first-of-its kind Virtual Reality Welding program utilizing Meta's Oculus.
- Featured in Meta's International Campaign, “The Impact is Real”, which focused on new immersive technologies having big impacts.
- StrataTech was nominated for Arizona's Most Admired Companies in 2023 and 2024
- Established multimillion-dollar partnerships with Amazon and Walmart
Certification
- Columbia University – Adkins Life Skills Educator
- New York State, Provisional Certification for K-8 and 7-12 English
- Action for Personal Choice Facilitator
Timeline
President & CEO
Strata Tech Education Group
01.2010 - 01.2025
Group Vice President
Lincoln Educational Services
01.2004 - 01.2010
Manager
Health Training Center
01.2003 - 01.2004
Director of Education
Girl Scouts of Southeastern Massachusetts
01.2002 - 01.2003
Chief Academic Officer
American Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay
01.2000 - 01.2002
Campus Director
New School University
01.1997 - 01.2000
Master of Arts - English Education
State University of New York at Albany
Bachelor of Arts - English and Psychology
State University of New York at Albany
Master of Science - Educational Administration and Policy Studies
State University of New York at Albany