Kelly Kavanaugh, chief strategy officer, wins national award from PR News

Kelly Kavanaugh, vice president and chief strategy officer, was recently named a PR News Top Women.  

PR News is the nation’s leading source of information, education, recognition and data for Fortune 1000 professionals, agencies and non-profits, particularly for the public relations and marketing sector. Their top women list recognizes supportive, innovative and inspiring women who have led their brand out of a crisis, broke into new markets, engaged new audiences or mentored colleagues. Kelly was awarded in the “in-house innovator category,” joining an elite group of thirteen women from companies like Walgreens, Barilla, Roku and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.  

Keep reading to learn about some of Kelly's most innovative moments from her 13-year tenure.

Kelly oversees more than 30 staff members from the hospital’s marketing, business development, communications and performance excellence teams. She's led game-changing innovations that have catapulted Dayton Children’s into a new level of competitiveness and awareness.  

Kelly led a $162 million campus renewal and rebranding campaign that elevated the hospital from a small community hospital to a place where parents know they can find the best care in the nation. Results of our latest brand study found that the goals Kelly set out to achieve weren’t just met, they were exceeded.  

She also rolled out Kids Express, a “retail clinic” brand tailored to children’s care with five locations across the region. According to her nomination, these clinics have become “gateways for families to get to know and love the Dayton Children’s brand, even if they never have to set foot in the hospital itself.” 

Most recently, Kelly created the hospital’s Center for the Female Athlete, a multidisciplinary, female-led program designed to holistically treat female athletes. The center, which has seen 550 patients to date, gave Dayton Children’s an edge in one of the most competitive areas, orthopedic care.  

These are just some of the many ways Kelly has brought innovative ideas and consumer-minded strategies that serve as a roadmap for Dayton Children’s growth, making her more than deserving of a PR News Top Women award. Congratulations Kelly!