My Background
Kelly Yocum is an accomplished entrepreneur and visionary with a history of pioneering new networking and collaborative business groups among technology and government executives. She is currently the Co-Founder and CEO of the nonprofit, Government Technology Research Alliance (GTRA), the CEO and Founder of GOVTek LLC, the CEO and Founder of LuXe Body Products LLC and the CEO and Founder of ConVurge Production and Management.
In 2007, Kelly Co-Founded GOVTek, a government technology media for security, cloud computing, virtualization, mobile/wireless, enterprise architecture, health IT and Leadership. GOVTek produces several mediums for collaboration, social media, information sharing, special events, conferences and meetings. Here she serves as the CEO and is responsible for the company’s vision, business development, marketing, sales and strategic alliances. She also oversees the annual symposiums, industry solutions for government, product development, marketing collateral, web and design. Kelly works directly with CEO’s and VP’s of most Fortune 1000 companies as well as cutting-edge technology providers providing consulting, marketing and business development for their government product groups.
Concurrently with GOVTek, Kelly launched the non-profit organization GTRA in 2008 which supports the government’s elite CIO’s, CTO’s, Chief Security Officers and Chief Architects to collaborate among federal agencies and strategize with the private sector for innovative solutions.
Kelly worked closely with the government CIO Council members to establish the SecureGOV Council (formed in 2003), MobileGOV Council (formed in 2004), HrGOV and ArchitectureGOV (formed in 2005), GreenGOV and LeadershipGOV (formed in 2007), DefenseGOV (Formed in 2008), and HealthIT GOV (formed in 2009). Her responsibility is overseeing the operation of the annual council meetings, marketing, business development, educational curriculum, partners and industry alliances.
Kelly Co-founded ConVurge in 2002 and served as the company’s CEO until 2007. Her role was responsible for the company’s vision, consulting services, business development, marketing strategies, special events, market direction and client relations. ConVurge developed programs in markets including government security, enterprise architecture, mobile and wireless, HR, Learning, and new technologies. *ConVurge was re-launched in 2010 to provide event management and production.
Prior to ConVurge, Kelly managed the summits division for a global business intelligence and conference organization. She identified new market trends, conducted research with technology executives, assisted in curriculum and program development as well as business development and marketing. She managed the San Francisco branch of 40 employees in the areas of sales, marketing and business development as well as a 10 person event production team.
Kelly is well-known for producing five star small, medium and large conferences, events and symposiums. Kelly oversees end-to-end production including: Research, curriculum development, competitive intelligence reporting, marketing, trend identification, brand development, business development, partner/alliance development, sponsorships, advertising, promotions, continuing education, budget management, staffing, food and beverage, audio visual, graphic design for logos/ads/collateral and web, lead generation, database management, registration management, media management, public relations, on-site execution, post-event surveys and photography.
Kelly has recently begun talent management for booking speaking engagement for clients in the training, technology, security and government industries.
Publications: Authored the foreword and provided research for “Cloud Computing: Implementation, Management & Security (2009)”, Authored the paper “Recession Proof Your Government Business (2008)”. Kelly has written hundreds of distributed press releases for marketing, business development, strategy, technology and government.
Kelly enjoys living part-time in Chicago, IL and commuting to Washington D.C. and Miami. She is also notably known in Chicago for her work with national charities such as the Y-ME Breast Cancer Association and the creation of Winter Blues, a fundraiser event at the House of Blues Chicago to raise awareness for Y-ME as well as local artists, musicians, fashion lines and entertainers. Other charitable organizations she has helped organize include Bottomless Closet for women trying to enter the workforce and Cystic Fibrosis. Kelly holds a bachelors degree from San Francisco State University, Certificate of Fine Arts from Academy of Art, SF, Information Systems from DeVry University.
“GTRA has consistently continued to do what the past two Presidents have agreed is a top priority: bringing a diverse grouping of ‘disciplined’ from across the government. ‘GTRA is a vehicle to help realize our administration’s vision for government performance! GTRA preceded Obama and no one can ride the coat tails! If Kelly Yocum, Co-founder & Executive Director, GTRA, sees it and says it, it has to come true!”
-Professor of Systems Management, Information Resources Management College, National Defense University (NDU)
Profile
- Kelly Yocum
- Co-Founder & Executive Director
- (415) 596-5000 (m)
(786) 216-7405 (o)
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