Joseph A. Kelley

Areas of Expertise: Leadership and Accountability

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Joseph A. Kelley is a senior–level executive with over 20 years of success in developing organizations, mentoring business leaders and spearheading economic development initiatives. He understands the interplay of internal and external factors that impact the effectiveness of corporations, small businesses, nonprofit entities and government agencies. His skill as a pragmatic problem solver has enabled organizations to reengineer processes, redirect resources and devise strategies to survive, thrive and expand while addressing ongoing organizational, technological, economic and cultural change.

After earning a Bachelor of Science in Education and Business Administration from Florida State University in 1980, Joseph directed national marketing campaigns for the Florida Department of Commerce that encouraged targeted corporations to expand operations and create high–paying jobs in the Sunshine State. From 1992 to 1995 Joseph served concurrently as the Executive Director of the Economic Development Council of Tallahassee/Leon County (EDC) and the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce. He continued to lead the Chamber and the EDC as President from 1995 until 1999, when he was recruited to serve as President of GTO, Inc. (Gates That Open), a Tallahassee–based corporation.

Joseph has grown GTO into an internationally–respected corporation. The company develops, manufactures and markets state–of–the–art automatic gate openers and access controls. He has increased profit margins by capitalizing on global resources by outsourcing GTO's manufacturing functions to Asia. The company has sold more than 750,000 residential and light commercial gate operators under flagship brands that are ranked among industry leaders in product quality and innovation. GTO was founded in 1987 and sold to Nortek, Inc. in 2005; Nortek was established in 1967 and has 35 diverse subsidiaries that provide top–quality building products for residential and commercial applications.

Joseph is a Certified Industrial Developer and a graduate of the Economic Development Institute. He has completed the Course for Presidents/CEOs with the American Management Association, and is a graduate of Leadership Tallahassee. Joseph serves as a faculty member at Aileron (Center for Entrepreneurial Education), where he facilitates The President/CEO Course. In addition, he serves on the board and acts as a business mentor for clients of the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship, which operates under the auspices of Florida State University.

In efforts to improve public policy and economic development opportunities across North Florida, Joseph continues to cultivate relationships with Florida's political and business leaders. He serves on numerous regional boards to carry out his commitment to developing individuals, organizations and the quality of life of our communities.