Kelly Carnes - Director of Operations, Dupont Underground

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Work Background

Dupont UndergroundDirector of Operations

May. 2024Washington DC-Baltimore AreaProviding operational leadership for historic landmark Dupont Underground, a 75,000sq ft abandoned trolley station which is being developed into an arts, performance, and private events venue.

HeardExecutive Director

Nov. 2023Alexandria, Virginia, United StatesLeads a local arts non-profit that employs artists to teach creative expression and life skills to people in need. A team of improv instructors, visual artists, singers, creative writers, and public speakers provide a safe place for people who are incarcerated, transitioning, and experiencing homelessness to share their stories and make their voices heard.

Planet WordDeputy Director

Jun. 2022 - Jul. 2023Washington, District of Columbia, United States● Participated with the Executive Director and CEO/Founder in providing executive leadership and direction for overall planning, development, and management of a brand-new museum dedicated to words and language. ● Provided direct oversight of the Development fundraising effort, the Marketing and Communications outreach, the private Event Rentals business, and Community Engagement activities. This included monitoring and approving budget expenditures, identifying opportunities for increasing revenues and reducing costs to maximize operational and financial efficiency. Under my leadership, Private Events revenue increased 20% and is growing. ● Served as chief talent officer, recruiting and training top tier talent to meet strategic plan initiatives, priorities and changing needs in a start-up environment through a robust DEIA lens. ● Directly supervised key senior supervisory staff at the Director and Manager levels, setting clear expectations and goals and reviewing performance regularly, administering personnel actions and supporting staff development and engagement. ● Represented the Executive Director and CEO/Founder at Planet Word events, presenting at board, committee, and staff meetings as well as to community partners, federal and local government representatives, donors and other key stakeholders. ● Worked in tandem with the Education and Programming Departments, community partners, educational organizations, and media outlets to develop joint programming with national impact. ● Directed and oversaw pan-organizational projects requiring strong internal communications, collaboration, and management across a variety of diverse departments and initiatives such as the museum’s first Strategic Planning effort. ● Responsible for monitoring the financial execution of the budget for multiple departments in relation to the museum’s overall finances. ● Actively initiated and led projects of all sizes and varying levels of complexity from inception through completion.

TroveCEO

Aug. 2019Cheverly, Maryland, United StatesFounded the first-ever peer-to-peer costume rental community, where users can make money renting high quality costumes for less, and make money by renting out their cool costume stock to others.

Carnes&Co.CEO

Feb. 2017Cheverly, Maryland, United StatesProvides consultation services for high-level Public Relations, and Event Planning projects and organizations. PR Clients Include: Smithsonian Latino Center Smithsonian Folklife Festival Bat Conservation International Memphis Meats (now Upside Foods) Wrightwood 659 Museum Lynda Carter Carla Canales Dupont Underground Yoga Alliance Catalogue for Philanthropy MermagicCon Historic Congressional Cemetery Hydroviv Electric Vehicle Institute Kleos Space Building Momentum D.C. Walls The Gault Center Cirque Du Nuit Sophie Jaff Carla Canales Jessica Lee Winfield Eat & Smile Catering Shower Toga Agora National Edgar Allan Poe Theater “50 Ways…” Fringe Play Deep Communications Verified Strategies Inner Loop Gerberich Growth Strategies Thrillist The Motley Consulting Group Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art Omaha Symphony Arlington Arts Center Energy Transition Finance Silver Lining Events: Beuchert’s Saloon deZEN Salon Smithsonian Private Parties Neighborhood Pharmacy Planet Word Museum Yoga: Right Proper Brewing Company East Side Yoga Historic Congressional Cemetery Kennedy Center Dance Loft on 14

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing ArtsDirector of Public Relations

Apr. 2016 - Feb. 2017Washington, District Of ColumbiaServed as spokesperson for all non-classical programming at the Kennedy Center including the Kennedy Center Honors, Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, Spring Gala, Expansion Project, Education, Theater, Ballet, Dance, Comedy, Jazz, Hip Hop, International Festivals, Arts Summit, Millennium Stage, and the JFK Centennial. Managed the Red Carpet for signature events, the Kennedy Center Honors and Mark Twain Prize, coordinating with top tier national entertainment media, celebrities and celebrity publicists for: Miley Cyrus, Bill Murray, Emma Stone, David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel, Aziz Ansari, Sigourney Weaver, Jane Curtin, Paul Shaffer, James Taylor, Mavis Staples and Al Pacino. Secured coverage in more than 830 local, national and international outlets, including entertainment press, such as: Entertainment Tonight, Extra, Vanity Fair, CBS, AP, Reuters, AFP, New York Times, New York Magazine, Getty, PBS, Washington Post, Chicago Sun-Times, and USA Today. Managed crisis communications events to prevent or minimize damaging coverage in national media outlets while creating opportunities for positive coverage. Led the PR Department’s first strategic planning effort to develop a comprehensive communications plan for the year. Managed a staff of six. Covered the duties of the Senior Press Rep for Theater and Education and Press Rep for Contemporary Culture, in addition, for four months each during critical re-hiring process. Developed press materials including releases, advisories, talking points, backgrounders, briefings, and reports, and provided media training for staff prior to press interviews.

Smithsonian's Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture GardenDirector of Communications and Marketing

Jan. 2015 - Apr. 2016Washington, District Of ColumbiaServed as spokesperson for the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Successfully navigated crisis communications challenges to recover from negative press and create positive coverage. Supported the executive visibility activities of the HMSG Director. Developed communications plans and materials to promote six major exhibitions by renowned national and international artists including Shirin Neshat and Robert Irwin. Managed a staff of seven, and an annual operating budget of $200,000, excluding contractors. Hired the museum’s first Social Media Manager to expand the museum’s digital offerings. Responsible for the webmaster’s maintenance and updates to the HMSG website. Managed paid marketing to promote the Museum’s exhibitions, programs, events and activities, including the 40th anniversary campaign and Gala. Worked alongside the Director to create the first 21st Century Museum Committee to foster technological innovation online and on-site. Built video capability to support and promote Museum activities. Developed innovative programming including yoga and summer happy hour series. Collaborated with Smithsonian Enterprises on commercial projects to generate revenue.

Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural HistorySenior Press Officer and Social Media Supervisor

Sep. 2010 - Jan. 2015Washington D.C. Metro Area• Write and edit news releases, media advisories and calendar listings, web copy and social media content with speed, accuracy and appeal. • Constantly facilitate interviews, documentary, news, and feature film shoots, press previews, and photo shoots with museum staff and media such as: The History Channel, The Discovery Channel, National Geographic, BBC, PBS, NBC, FOX News, ABC News, Associated Press, NPR, The Today Show, Smithsonian Channel, Voice of America, QVC, Telemundo, and Univision. • Participate in long-term strategic communications planning to publicize new temporary and major permanent exhibitions such as: “Butterflies and Plants: Partners In Evolution," “The Sant Ocean Hall,” the “David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins,” “The Hope Diamond,” “Genome: Unlocking Life’s Code,” and dozens of others. • Driving the museum’s social media presence, managing a contractor by providing strategic direction, contributing inventive ideas for creating compelling original content, and supporting implementation. Recent example of a major, successful social media campaign: #NationsTrex, which helped the museum welcome our new T. rex specimen and celebrate the Dinosaur Halls as they closed for renovation. The campaign trended twice: #NationsTrex and #POTUSrex and on arrival day, April 15, it garnered 33M impressions on Twitter alone. • Pioneered an innovative new “friendship” with local social learning organization, thirstDC, to inspire DC millenials to engage with experts from across the Smithsonian at local watering holes, sharing what they learn, and experiencing interacting with the Smithsonian in a more relevant, accessible, enjoyable way: http://vimeo.com/52429627 • Organized the Smithsonian's first flash mob, the "Splash Mob": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bscpVGghH18 • Counsel the Office of Product and Licensing on new revenue-producing initiatives including major projects: QVC, the Hope Diamond Barbie, DK books, Music Skins, Coffee Tumblers, and apparel.

Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural HistoryPublic Affairs Specialist

Sep. 2007 - Sep. 2010Washington DCServe as a liaison between the museum and the news media. • Wrote and edited news releases, media advisories, and web copy. • Facilitated interviews, documentary, news, and feature film shoots, press previews, and photo shoots with scientists with high-impact, multilingual media outlets such as: The History Channel, The Discovery Channel, National Geographic, PBS, NBC, FOX News, ABC News, Associated Press, NPR, Telemundo, The Today Show, Smithsonian Channel, Voice of America, and HDTV. • Participated in long-term project planning for new opening exhibitions frequently collaborating with external PR firms to promote new major temporary and permanent exhibitions such as: “Discovering Rastafari!,” “Butterflies and Plants: Partners In Evolution,” “Dig it! The Secrets of Soil,” “Nature’s Best Photography,” and “Written in Bone: Forensic Files of the 17th Century Chesapeake." • Implemented original ideas to increase our Digital Presence on Social Networking platforms including Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Flickr. Pioneered the Smithsonian's first presence on Q+A site, Quora. • Partnered with the U.S. State Dept. to produce a new mobile product featuring daily Smithsonian content for international audiences and helped create and promote the Smithsonian's first mobile app: MEanderthal. • Counseled the Office of Product and Licensing on new revenue-producing initiatives including major projects such as: QVC, Kraft Lunchables, Paleontologist Barbie, DK books, Smithsonian Bicycle Jerseys and Big Fish Games. • Assisted in producing the museum’s 2010 Museum Report. • Managed a media database of approximately 2,500 media placements a year, creating comprehensive reports of media activity. • Managed 3-4 interns and volunteers per year.

Smithsonian InstitutionFilming Coordinator

Dec. 2006 - Jun. 2007Washington, DCRole: Served as Filming Coordinator for all Smithsonian Channel film shoots. • Facilitated all filming around the Smithsonian Institution for the newly created Smithsonian Channel. • Logged more than 200 filming hours around the Institution’s 19 museums, research centers and the National Zoo. • Navigated the pre-production and on-site requirements for each location, managing all logistics to ensure successful filming and facilitating shoots on location. • Completed all post-production processing such as invoicing, releases, and reporting.