Team/Board Members

Office of First Impressions & Administrative Assistant

Past Chair Economic Council Partner, Shutts & Bowen

President Palm Beach State College

Director at Large Boynton Financial Group

Business Development Coordinator

Chair
Director at Large
Gunster

IT Manager

Representing PBC Commissioner Michael Barnett PBSO

Director at Large PNC Bank

Representing PBC Commissioner Marci Woodward & Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce ModMed

Events Coordinator

Representing Economic Council of Palm Beach County I.T. Solutions of South Florida

Director At Large Aerojet Rocketdyne

Director at Large Florida Power & Light

Representing LORE

Director At Large Jupiter Medical Center

Director at Large Stiles-Nicholson Foundation

Director at Large Wells Fargo

Representing Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches Florida Crystals Corporation

Director at Large Bank of America

Representing Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce Gonzalez, Shenkman & Buckstein, P.L.

Director at Large Retired, RSM US, LLP

Chair Emeritus Director at Large Retired, President Hardrives, Inc.

Representing Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce 2GHO

Director at Large Melgahealth, LLC

Director at Large Moss 

Representing Black Chamber of Commerce Akerman LLP

Past Chair Shutts & Bowen LLP

Financial & Office Manager

Vice Chair
Representing Commissioner Maria Marino
USPA Global Licensing Inc.

Director at Large Tortoise Properties

Director at Large WREI 

Treasurer
Director At Large
Palm Beach Capital

Administrative Assistant, Economic Development & Research

President and CEO CareerSource Palm Beach County

Director at Large SpinaOrourke & Partners

Representing PBC Commissioner Sara Baxter Wedgworth Farms

President & CEO

Kelly L. Smallridge is President and CEO of Palm Beach County’s public/private economic development agency, the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County (BDB) where she has worked for 34 years.    She serves as the longest tenured economic development President in the State of Florida and has a solid track record in facilitating some of the largest job creation projects for Palm Beach County.  In 2013, Governor Rick Scott awarded Kelly with the Governor’s Ambassador Medal recognizing her hard work in creating jobs in Palm Beach County. In March of 2022, she was inducted into the University of Florida’s Academy of Golden Gators.

Kelly oversees all operations of the Business Development Board which is one of only five Accredited Economic Development Boards in the State of Florida. In 2004, she became the first female President of a South Florida economic development board after serving in many different capacities within the organization including the lead role for the Recruitment, Retention and Expansion from 1988-2004.   In addition, she serves on the following boards: Southern Economic Development Council, International Economic Development Council, South Florida Fair, the Homeless Coalition, and The Education Foundation.

In 2013 and 2021, she was featured on Fox News, CNBC, Bloomberg and the NY Post touting the assets of Palm Beach County and leading the “Wall Street South” initiative.   Under her leadership, the BDB has transformed the economy of Palm Beach County and the organization has received numerous state and national awards for its work in recruiting and expanding companies to Palm Beach County.  Kelly is also credited with leading the Wall Street South initiative which has led to the expansion of over 100 financial service firms from the Northeast to Palm Beach County including New Day USA, Millenium Asset Management, Point72, RiverNorth, Sanders Capital and Siris Capital to name a few.  Her aggressive style in facilitating relocations and expansions has led to big announcements of jobs for the county from companies like Carrier Corporation, Amazon, ADT, Pratt & Whitney, Finfrock, Fed Ex, Sikorsky Helicopters, Aldi, and TBC Corporation to name a few. 

Kelly is also credited with creating several new programs for Palm Beach County: the first Expedited Permitting Ordinance which was adopted by 15 cities in Palm Beach County; a countywide “Shovel Ready” program to identify sites ready for construction within 12 months as well as several education initiatives involving high school and college level students.

Awards and Recognition: 
– Florida Economic Developer of the Year in 2022
– Business of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches 2022
– Ambassador’s Medal by Governor Rick Scott 
– “Florida’s 500 Most Influential Business Leaders” by Florida Trend for last 10 years
– “Palm Beach 100” by Palm Beach Media Group 2020, 2021 and 2022
– “Top 40 Business Leaders” by South Florida CEO
– “Small Business Leader of the Year” by the Sun Sentinel
– “Palm Beach County Public Schools Distinguished Alumni Award” by the Education Foundation
– “Top 40 Influential Business Leader” by Palm Beacher Magazine
– “Ultimate CEO” by the South Florida Business Journal
– “Woman of the Year” Palm Beach North Chamber
– “2021 Influential Business Woman Honoree” South Florida Business Journal

Kelly has three sons, graduated from the University of Florida and resides in Wellington.

Chair Emeritus Director at Large LRP Media Group

Representing PBC Commissioner Gregg WeissRelated Ross

Director at Large Pro Links Sports

Vice President, Marketing & Media Relations

Events Coordinator

Director at Large Suffolk

Events Assistant

Vice President, Private Funding

Director At Large Pratt & Whitney

Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners

Superintendent Palm Beach County School District

Representing Economic Council Alvarez & Marsal

Secretary Director At Large Comcast

Director at Large Carrier

Director at Large Morning Calm Management

Representing Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce Amy and Noreen Team/Lang Realty

Representing Economic Council Wellington Regional Medical Center

Director At Large Kaufman Rossin

Director At Large Rendina Real Estate Development

Representing Economic CouncilJones Foster

Director At Large BMO

Vice President, Business Recruitment, Retention & Expansion

Vice President, Business Recruitment, Retention & Expansion

Representing the Port of Palm Beach Port of Palm Beach Commissioner