Meet Kelly Kannwischer
Kelly believes organizations are at their best when people are recognized for their gifts.
She passionately fosters connections with her clients and creates relationships that last long beyond her engagements.
Compelled to learn, to make sense of, and to connect the dots, Kelly, is an expert thought-leader who identifies exciting opportunities and the resources required to achieve mission-critical objectives while igniting growth and inspiring action.
By designing unique, targeted solutions, Kelly has driven major change in a variety of settings. As Founder of OptUp Consulting, an Insights Discovery-based coaching consultancy, Kelly works with clients around the globe to create forward-moving change.
“I have worked with Kelly on numerous projects from strategic planning to executive team development and coaching. In every case she has delivered more than professional services and has inspired teams to excel beyond what they imagined.“
– Dr. Carol Taylor
President and CEO Emeritus, Evangel University
A passionate executive coach and advisor, Kelly supports key stakeholders from top organizations, including Amazon Web Services, Target, Convoy of Hope, and MagMutual Insurance Company, and tailors her approach to meet a wide range of topics, from team health & engagement to Board governance and non-profit grant management.
In her former work with Vanguard University, Kelly solidified her status as a master of creating comprehensive brand strategies.
Throughout her tenure, she launched campaigns, optimized resources, and maximized fundraising, leaving a lasting impression upon the university’s operational sustainability.
Kelly believes organizations are at their best when people are recognized for their gifts.
She passionately fosters connections with her clients and creates relationships that last long beyond her engagements.
Compelled to learn, to make sense of, and to connect the dots, Kelly, is an expert thought-leader who identifies exciting opportunities and the resources required to achieve mission-critical objectives while igniting growth and inspiring action.
“Kelly brings vast experience, intelligence, humor and tremendous acuity to her team facilitation and coaching. Having experienced rapid growth, we needed a deeper understanding of and appreciation for the way each of us ‘shows up’ and communicates both individually and in a group dynamic.
Kelly masterfully led us through revealing exercises that taught and tightened our team and continues to walk us through growth in an active consulting role. Because of her, Team Kid as we lovingly call ourselves, is more connected, empathetic, and skillfully prepared to grow together in an organizational culture that practices clear communication and values strength in diversity.
Any organization and leader has more clarity and impact after working with her.”
– Jennifer Friend
Kelly holds a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from the University of Virginia.
She started her career as a Development Consultant and Director of Communications with Pursuant (formerly Viscern).
In 2008, Kelly worked with Presbyterian Global Fellowship as an Executive Director before joining Vanguard University.
While at Vanguard, Kelly held various titles as the Vice President for University Advancement, President of the Vanguard University Foundation, and Vice President for Administration and Public Affairs.
In 2015, Kelly combined two of her passions, non-profit and advisory work, joining educational non-profit THINK Together, before partnering with two key leaders to found Future Church Co., a consulting firm focused on advising and providing resources for local churches and denominational networks of organizations that serve churches.
In all her work, Kelly proves to be a motivational voice, revolutionizing the way individuals and organizations approach team collaboration, motivation, and development, ushering in the next generation of leaders.
When not coaching or optimizing non-profit strategy & operations, you can find Kelly playing golf with her husband and two daughters, and spoiling their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Austin.
“There is tremendous power in simplicity. When simplicity and strategic development and execution combine, employees, customers, and other stakeholders truly understand the direction of the organization and get behind fulfilling it.
Kelly is the master at working with executive teams in their journey through the StratOp process achieving results. She is a powerful motivator with warmth, expertise and wisdom that will help any organization.”
– Gary Blackard
President/CEO of the Adult & Teen Challenge
