Kellie Oconnell

About Kellie Oconnell

Kellie O\'Connell serves as Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross of Illinois, leading humanitarian response and community preparedness initiatives that serve more than 12.2 million people across 88 counties in Illinois and parts of Iowa and Missouri. A transformational leader with over two decades of nonprofit and government experience, Kellie has dedicated her career to expanding access to vital resources for communities in need. Prior to joining the Red Cross, she served as CEO of Nourishing Hope, where she led the organization through significant expansion and innovation. Under her leadership, the organization launched Chicago\'s first online food pantry market, mounted an impressive COVID-19 hunger relief response at Wrigley Field, expanded free mental health services, rebranded the organization, and opened a new central headquarters to serve more communities across the city.A native South Sider, Kellie\'s commitment to Chicago runs deep. She is a Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow since 2020, an active member of the Economic Club of Chicago, and serves on the executive committee of the board for Guitars Over Guns. Her collaborative leadership approach and focus on innovation have earned recognition including the Mayor\'s Medal of Honor and a Chicago Innovation Award.Kellie holds a master\'s degree in Sociology from Loyola University Chicago and a bachelor\'s degree in Sociology from Northern Illinois University. She enhanced her executive leadership credentials through Harvard Business School\'s Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management Executive Education Program in 2019.A proud mom, Kellie shares her passion for service with her teenage daughter, Brennan, as they explore and give back to the city they call home.

Experience

1. Chief Executive Officer

   American Red Cross Of Illinois

   Feb 2025 — Present · Chicago, IL, US

   Kellie O\'Connell serves as Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross of Illinois, leading humanitarian response and community preparedness initiatives that serve more than 12.2 million people across 88 counties in Illinois and parts of Iowa and Missouri.

Education

• Loyola University Chicago

  MA, Sociology

• Northern Illinois University

  BS, Sociology

• Harvard Business School Executive Education

  Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management (SPNM)

  2019