Your Guide

Susan Barrett Kelly

President, SBK and Associates, Inc.

I love my work! My boutique consulting firm specializes in helping people to be at their best, working with teams to optimize their talent, and supporting organizations to navigate change. I’ve learned a lot after twenty-five years of experience in learning, human resources and organization development. My wide variety of experiences includes partnering with clients in local, regional and global companies. I’m lucky enough to work with terrific clients who work in publicly held, privately held and not for profit organizations.

I began my her career in Sales with Kraft Foods, with responsibility for stores and headquarters accounts in Cleveland, Ohio.  This early experience working independently in a field location with customer responsibility helped me to realize the importance of each individual to the success of the whole.  My  first Human Resources assignment was as Sales Training Manager for Sales, followed by subsequent progressive responsibilities, finishing my corporate career as the Sr. Director Organization Development for Kraft Foods North America.

In addition to my consulting practice, I am an adjunct faculty member at Northwestern University, serving as a coach to students in the M.S. Learning and Organizational Change Program.

Education

I received a MS in Learning and Organizational Change from Northwestern University, an MBA from Roosevelt University and a BS from Kent State University.

Volunteer Work

I volunteer as a member of the Human Resources committee for UCAN, a multi-faceted social service agency which serves more than 12,000 children, youth and families in Illinois each year. I am is also a member of the National Athletic Development Board for Kent State University, an advisory and development board for Division I athletic programs.