Darryl Kelly | Director of Business Partnerships
Darryl Kelly serves as the lead liaison between Kansas Leadership Center and its business and corporate partners, responsible for supporting current and cultivating new corporate and business partnerships that foster greater value for communities and organizations served by KLC. Darryl has a knack for forging meaningful relationships. Before joining KLC he was assistant vice president – project manager with Equity Bank headquartered in Wichita, Kansas. A proud Air Force veteran, Darryl understands the idea of servant leadership, and aims to exemplify it on the job and in the community. Darryl prides himself on bringing people and teams together to get hard stuff done. Darryl is an alumnus of Old Dominion University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in corporate communication and later went on to receive a master’s degree in management from Colorado Technical University.
Darryl has received awards and recognition throughout his military and civilian career. In 2020, Darryl was named Wichita Business Journal’s 40 under 40 and received the Diversity & Inclusion Award. Additionally, he was honored with the Exceptional Young Leader Award in 2021, presented by the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce. Darryl serves on multiple boards and committees including the YMCA Metropolitan Board of Directors, Wichita Art Museum Board of Trustees, as well as The Gathering committee. One of Darryl’s passion projects is supporting efforts to revitalize Wichita’s Historic Dunbar Theatre and surrounding areas. Darryl is a staunch proponent for getting involved; he believes that you must be the change that you want to see.
Darryl hails from Newport News, Virginia, but affectionately calls Wichita home now (and is actively engaged in a campaign to move all his family to Wichita!). In his spare time Darryl enjoys grilling, golf, and volunteering with Central Christian Church. It is Darryl’s faith in Christ that forms the lens through which he operates. Darryl is blessed with a beautiful family: his wife Jaci and their three children—Jayda, Trey, and Janae.
