Kelley Reece is a communications designer turned licensed social worker and public policy researcher.

Initiative Industries is her studio name under which she offers organizations and individual clients her diverse talents including:

• Branding & Graphic Design

• Data Analysis & Visualization  

• Illustration

• Photography

• Copy Writing

• Curriculum & Workshop Design

EXPERIENCE 

The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD Jan 2024 – Oct 2024 
Project Outcomes Lead, Healthy Minds Healthy Communities | Houston, TX 

• Reported impact of ARPA-funded community-initiated care program to Harris Center’s Board of Directors, Harris County Commissioners Court, and the research evaluation team via monthly reports; reports included quantitative metrics, data visualizations, narrative summaries, and Photo Voice reporting.

• Shaped capacity building curriculum for community engagement associates based on data yielded from community feedback survey responses

• Collaborated with team therapists, community engagement team members, and community members to develop culturally informed messaging to advertise the initiative’s work; print and digital campaigns reached 56% more community members than target set by Commissioner’s Court

Lead Connect Grow, LLC | May 2021 - Present 
Writer & Editor | Houston, TX 

• Developed and facilitated capacity-building workshops for working groups and teams; Curriculum determined through findings of  intensive observation of team dynamics and conducting interviews with all stakeholders including hiring managers and their reporting staff

• Researched current peer-reviewed social science and psychology literature for best practices regarding team cohesion and synthesized findings into presentations, interactive activities, and small group discussions

• Quality of programming led to strong business relationships with Williams Energy, Methodist Hospital, and TRIO groups across the country

Communities in Schools | Aug 2020 – May 2021 
Graduate Social Work Intern | Houston, TX 

• Created capacity-building curriculum and relationship-buidling activities for all of Houston area Communities in Schools staff online during the height of the pandemic

• Built and coded a web-based resource library for continuing education opportunities for staff

Houston in Action | Aug 2018– May 2019 
Graduate Voter Engagement Social Work Intern | Houston, TX 

• ·   Collaborated with January Advisors, OCA Houston, Mi Familia Vota, and City Council officials through consistent stakeholder meeting, advocating for enhanced voter access and Census participation

• Audited Harris County voting policies under the supervision of Dr. Suzanne Pritzker of the University of Houston and Melissa Marschall of Rice University

• Synthesized quantitative and qualitative data into narrative summaries and data visualizaitons to present to City Council; Presentation persuaded City Council to add polling locations on University of Houston campus for the 2018 midterms

• Supported Frances Valdez in securing $250,000 in Episcopal Health grant funding for Census related community engagement efforts through presentation design, data visualization, and copy writing

Initiative Industries | May 2011 – Present 
Principal Designer & Owner | Houston, TX 

• Designed branding, advertisements websites, and packaging for clients including Leadership Houston, Hamilton College, and Syracuse University’s LGBT Resource Center 

• Conducted intake consultations with new clients to ascertain project scope and communication challenges; resulted in client relationships lasting for over two years 

Judson Design | Aug 2011– Feb 2015 
Designer | Houston, TX 

• Designed for clients including Dress for Success, the Jung Center, Texas Medical Center, Ritz Carlton Hotels, Mitchell Historic Properties, Carrabba’s Original, Mia’s, and Grace’s 

Pride Union | Sept 2009 – May 2011 
President & Social Outreach Coordinator | Syracuse, NY 

• Facilitated student process groups and conducted peer-to-peer counseling regarding LGBTQIA+ student issues on campus, issues with family, and broader community needs 

• Organized campus-wide events with other Student Union and local organizations through roles at Syracuse University’s LGBT Resource Center

The OutCrowd Magazine | Sept 2009 – May 2011 
Art Director, Syracuse University LGBT Resource Center | Syracuse, NY 

• Project managed over 20 student artists for each biannual issue with a readership of over 20,400 students

• Conceptualized editorial art pieces supporting news and culture reporting relevant to the LGBTQIA+ student body

Syracuse University LGBT Resource Center | Sept 2009 – May 2011 
Graphic Designer | Syracuse, NY 

• Created advertisements, calendars, and fliers for hundreds of LGBT Resource Center event programming

EDUCATION 

Master of Social Work, University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, Graduated May 2021 

Master of Public Policy, University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs, Graduated May 2021 

Bachelor of Fine Arts Communications Design, Syracuse University, Graduated May 2011 

LICENSE 

Licensed Master Social Worker - #108976 

SKILLS 

Concept Development, Culturally Informed Communications, Data Analysis, Data Visualization, Needs Assessments, Community Engagement, Project Management, Stata, Adobe Creative Suite 

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS 

• Phi Alpha Alpha International Honor Society for Public Affairs & Administrators 

• Phi Alpha Honor Society of Social Work 

• Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management 

• National Association of Social Workers 

• National Organization for Human Services