At this 6-part series of fireside chats with a local Woman of Distinction and Chamber President & CEO, Erin Donovan-Boyle, guests will hear a 20 - 30-minute conversation and have the opportunity to ask questions of the guest while enjoying a continental breakfast. Following Q&A, guests are welcome to stay and network! 

February Woman of Distinction: Kelley Coen, Chief Executive Officer, Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County

Kelley Coen is a team-centric professional with over 30 years of experience in the nonprofit industry and demonstrated high performance results.  After a brief stint in international sales with the LEGO toy company, Kelley began her nonprofit career at the Preservation Society of Newport County in their retail sales department. She then joined the Alumni and Advancement team at her alma mater, Salve Regina University, where she held various roles and finished as Director of Major Gifts.  During her ten-year tenure, Kelley served as a key leader and managed personnel in a fundraising office that raised $4 million annually.

Kelley spent the next two years as the Major Gifts Officer at the Newport Hospital Foundation.  For the foundation, Kelley made her impact on their signature fundraising event and the Emergency Room capital campaign.

In 2019, Kelley joined the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County as the Director of Development, where she immediately hosted the Club’s signature gala that resulted in a 200% increase in net revenue. Already successful in cultivating relationships with community stakeholders and private donors, Kelley implemented strategies to grow major gifts and new donors and forged new partnerships. Five years later, she was next promoted to the position of Chief Advancement Officer in recognition of growing the advancement team to include all fundraising activities, partnerships and marketing and communications as they stand today.  Partnering with a campaign chair, she is currently leading the Club’s $16+ million-dollar comprehensive capital campaign – without adding additional staff and while meeting the Club’s $2.8 million fundraising budget.

She brings three decades of business and philanthropic experience, holds an MBA from Western New England College, and earned her undergraduate degree in English communications from Salve Regina University. She is also a Certified Fund-Raising Executive through CFRE International.