Kelly A. Borth, CBC/APR
Kelly Borth is a visionary with an intense pioneering spirit, an unfaltering commitment to achieving excellence, and a firm belief in the value of helping others—both personally and professionally.
Kelly started her career in marketing in Chicago, as a sales promotion assistant for the leading manufacturer of water purification and treatment systems worldwide, Culligan International. After relocating to Ohio in 1980, Kelly became a marketing specialist for the nation’s largest incentive travel company in Dayton. She later settled in Columbus as assistant advertising director for what is now known as National City Bank, and later worked for a small and mid-size advertising agency as marketing director and public relations director, as well as marketing director for a seven-store local retail chain.
In 1990, Kelly co-founded GREENCREST, a full-service marketing, advertising and public relations agency, and became sole owner in 1995. Today, GREENCREST is a full-service advertising agency, offering brand development, strategic market planning, Web and traditional marketing, as well as media relations services to propel established and emerging businesses to become distinguished category leaders.
Kelly is a founding member of the Columbus Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) and was elected chapter president in 2000. She founded the Salute to Women Business Owners annual recognition program (Visionary Awards). She continues to serve on the chapter’s advisory board and played an instrumental role in establishing the organization’s Business Owner Roundtable Groups. In 2003, she was named member of the year for the Columbus chapter and in 2005 was honored with the NAWBO Visionary Award.
Kelly currently serves on the local boards of Neighborhood Design Center, Young Survivor Coalition, The Entrepreneurship Institute, Association for Corporate Growth, Conway Family Business Center, the American Heart Association Columbus Metro Board, St. Pius X Finance Committee and State of Ohio Entrepreneurship Advisory Roundtable. Kelly is past president of the St. Pius X Parish Council and is a past president of the development board of the Heinzerling Foundation. She is a board advisor for NAWBO, the Inn at Cedar Falls and Critical Medical Information, and served for seven years as a trustee of the Jefferson Water & Sewer District.
Kelly has been a regular speaker for the Small Business Administration and has mentored numerous women-owned businesses through Women’s Network for Entrepreneurial Training. In addition to her board responsibilities, she is a member of the Public Relations Society of America, The Counselors Academy, Advertising Federation, Roundtable of Agency Management Presidents, Central Ohio BIA, Women President’s Organization, Entrepreneurs Organization, Second Wind, Brand Establishment, Brand 3.0, Business Development Institute, Chief Marketing Officer Network, and Experiential Marketing.
She has been recognized as one of Columbus’s top “Forty under 40” up and coming leaders and was honored as the 1998 “Communicator of the Year” by the Columbus Chamber of Commerce Sales Executive Club. She is a 1999 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Supporter of Entrepreneurship Award finalist. Kelly was also listed as one of Columbus’s Power 100 by Smart Business magazine for 2000 and 2001.
Kelly has earned numerous industry awards including BizComm Best of Category, Excellence and Merit, Bronze Quill Best of Category, Addy Award of Excellence and AIM Best of Show Best Marketing Campaign Award.
She is certified by the Business Marketing Association as a business communicator (CBC), accredited in the profession of public relations by the Public Relations Society of America (APR), and one of only 25 certified by The Brand Establishment as a brand consultant.
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