Zak Kelley Email & Phone Number

Nashville, Tn, Us

Nashville Metropolitan Area

Special projects manager focused on communications and public policy for the division of purchases.Assist purchasing agent with daily management of the division. Lead cross-functional innovation team to identify and implement process improvements. Communicate divisional activities and their value to key stakeholders, policy makers, and senior management. Leverage outside partnerships to maximize government resources. Monitor and advise leadership on policy and external affairs. Partnered with adams & reese, the US small business administration, nashville community education, and others to provide free resources and training for more than 500 local businesses in the wake of COVID-19. Managed $50,000 grant from living cities – city accelerator to improve access for black and brown owned, women-owned businesses to Metro’s procurement process. Completed ‘undoing racism’ training through the people’s institute for survival & beyond as part of the cohort requirement.

Nashville Metropolitan Area

Special assistant to the director of finance. Collaborated with colleagues on the finance leadership team, internal and external stakeholders, to develop and execute legislative advocacy efforts around $2 billion operating budget, more than $1 billion in capital projects, and all other financial policy. Prepared communications, presentations, and reports to guide leadership on interactions with media, metro council, state legislature and the public.Planned and coordinated a four-week cultural exchange program with the US State Department-American Council of Young Political Leaders. Fellow from Palangka Raya, Indonesia was placed with metro finance and met with the Mayor, director of finance, various departments, state leaders, non-profits, prominent investigative journalists, and other community groups to learn about government transparency and liberal democracy.Increased universe for small and diverse vendor outreach by more than 7,000 through partnership with Nashville Community Education. Resulted in 12-hours of continuing education trainings, over initial six-month period, for 225 small, black and brown owned, and woman-owned enterprises.

Nashville, Tennessee, United States

Senior legislative advisor to House Minority Leader Craig Fitzhugh. Collaborated with 26-members and 30+ staff to direct legislative, communication, and advocacy efforts for the caucus. Achieved significant reform on vaccinations, economic development, and women's health. Built and maintained diverse, issue-based coalitions with external stakeholders and members of the majority. Planned and coordinated special outreach events, including five-day, seven city statewide 'Jobs Tour' that engaged media in four-major markets.Increased minority leader's win margin by 20-points and raised more than $200,000 in each of three cycles.

Nashville, Tennessee, United States

Legislative analyst for House Minority Leader Craig Fitzhugh. Evaluated 1,000+ bills per session, drafted communications and presentations, including weekly tracking report, on policy and legislative trends from 15-House Committees.

Greater Nashville Area, Tn

Enhanced candidate's brand by drafting communications and presentations that demonstrated her personal and legislative impact on the community. Researched, analyzed, and evaluated policy positions to produce memos, summaries, and talking points to train internal and external stakeholders.Achieved 10-point margin of victory (55 percent-45 percent) by strategically executing communications plan for first female Mayor of Nashville. Mitigated approximately $1 million spending disadvantage by engaging, training diverse network of community validators and elected surrogates to maximize earned media.

Knoxville, Tennessee, United States

Raised $90,000 in first nine-weeks. Grew campaign from a staff of one, to three full-time with more than 40 active volunteers.

Dresden, Tennessee, United States

Managed all communication, field, mail, and polling efforts for state house campaign. Raised more than $80,000 for re-election effort.