BlueGreen Alliance | Kelly (Schwinghammer) Connolly

Kelly (Schwinghammer) Connolly

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

PHONE: 612-466-4483   ·   SEND AN EMAIL

Kelly (Schwinghammer) Connolly is the Executive Vice President of the BlueGreen Alliance, responsible for the development and execution of the organization’s strategic plan and oversight of the BlueGreen Alliance’s legislative and policy, communications, and organizing teams.

Kelly joined the nascent organization as Communications Director in 2008, building from the ground up the BlueGreen Alliance’s earned, paid, and digital communications efforts. Kelly also served as Vice President of Strategic Communications and Outreach before becoming Executive Vice President in 2015. She has an extensive background on issues related to climate change, clean energy, energy efficiency, infrastructure, and safer chemicals.

Kelly is an experienced and proven nonprofit and communications leader. In 2012, she was Deputy Campaign Manager for Minnesotans United for All Families, the first-ever campaign to defeat a state constitutional amendment to ban marriage for same-sex couples. Kelly oversaw research and message development for the campaign, managed a $6 million broadcast media campaign, and directed a staff of five in the launch of and statewide earned and social media plan.

Prior to joining the BlueGreen Alliance, Kelly served as Communications Director for the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor (DFL) Party, as communications specialist for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU)—where she led media efforts on campaigns to gain affordable health insurance for area janitors, and was the Press Secretary for Washington, D.C.-based Families USA, a national healthcare organization dedicated to achieving high quality, affordable healthcare for all.