Kelley Keffer is a Project Manager for the City of Mesa Office of Economic Development (OED) team and has been a member of the team since December 2012. Kelley is responsible for leading the department’s small business and entrepreneurship initiatives – Mesa Business Builder and the Mesa HUUB digital platform for small businesses; managing LaunchPoint, Mesa’s business incubator; overseeing the planning and construction for Mesa Business Builder @ The Studios; curating The Business Advocate monthly newsletter; and managing a variety of attraction, retention, and expansion projects. She works with hundreds of small businesses each year, providing support, resources, and training on a wide range of topics. Her success managing LaunchPoint has resulted in more than 40 participating companies constructing a mixture of products and services in technology, medical devices, and advanced materials that have created more than 300 jobs globally and have raised more than $200 million in capital collectively.

Kelley earned a Bachelor of Business Administration – Management from Walsh College. She is a certified business analyst and holds instructor certifications in NxLevel, FastTrac, and Profit Mastery for entrepreneurs. She has working in the private, nonprofit, education, and government sectors. Originally from the metropolitan Detroit area, prior to joining the City of Mesa, Kelley served for more than six years as the Director of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Mohave Community College, and as an Associate Faculty member teaching Entrepreneurship and Small Business. Additionally, she co-owned a successful residential and commercial contracting company for more than 20 years.

Kelley proudly works to improve the city she lives in for the citizens of Mesa. To her, the most fulfilling aspect of working in economic development is assisting businesses and entrepreneurs to overcome challenges and find solutions to keep them growing and enhancing the diverse economic base in Mesa. In her off time, she is a homebody and enjoys spending working around her house and garden as well as reading and traveling.