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Trish Kelly

Trish joined Valley Vision in 2014 as Managing Director after several years as a consultant to the organization. She oversees Valley Vision’s food and ag economy and broadband and digital equity impact areas and supports the regional economy strategy initiative We Prosper Together.

Professional Experience

Trish’s vast regional and statewide networks greatly contribute to the growth and vitality of the region. She led Valley Vision’s management of the region’s federally designated Prosperity Strategy, providing support to communities and organizations on funding and project strategies. An effective grant writer, Trish helped the region win a federal designation as a food and beverage manufacturing community, and a  co-leadership role in USDA’s national food business center program, among others.

Before coming to Valley Vision, Trish consulted a wide range of clients on economic development, including local jurisdictions, state and federal agencies, educational institutions, councils of governments, workforce development boards, and philanthropic entities. She led several flagship initiatives—including regional-state partnerships—on industry cluster and workforce development for state economic strategies, rural policy, infrastructure, and sustainability indicators, including California’s first-ever, region-based indicator report for the California Strategic Growth Council.Trish joined Valley Vision in 2014 as Managing Director after several years as a consultant to the organization. She oversees Valley Vision’s food and ag economy, 21st century workforce, and broadband strategies and is now serving as Senior Advisor

Affiliations & Awards

CA Forward Regional Steward Leader Award, 2023

Sacramento Metro Chamber Capital-to-Capitol Program Honorary Vice Chair, 2023, and Co-Lead, Food and Agriculture Commitee

AgStart and the Vine Institute Board Member

Golden Bear Award for Lifetime Achievement recipient, California Association for Local Economic Development (2017)
Women Who Mean Business Award, Sacramento Business Journal (2017)

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Spanish, cum laude – Georgetown University
Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning – University of Pennsylvania

Interests

Spending time with my family including three wonderful sons who are involved in arts and culture and public policy, my wonderful daughter-in-law, and energetic twin granddaughters. Exploring California and other parts known and unknown in the world with my family and friends, talking politics and art and culture, hiking and learning new things and meeting interesting people from other cultures. Supporting our regional food systems, farmers and food producers, and those dear colleagues making a difference in the world – especially to reduce hunger and food and nutrition insecurity, and build resilient food systems and healthy economies. 

Trish’s Top 5 Strengths

  1. Input – Has a craving to know more. Like to collect and archive all kinds of information.
  2. Positivity – Has an enthusiasm that is contagious. Upbeat and can get others excited about what they are going to do.
  3. Learner – Great desire to learn and wants to continuously improve. The process of learning, rather than the outcome, excites them.
  4. Belief – Has certain core values that are unchanging. Out of these values emerges a defined purpose for their life.
  5. Communication – Generally find it easy to put their thoughts into words. Good conversationalist and presenter.

CliftonStrengths is a talent assessment tool developed by Gallup to help individuals maximize their unique talents. At Valley Vision, all staff have the opportunity to take this assessment to help better understand their natural strengths and increase our team’s ability for radical collaboration.