Kelly Ilagan Coldiron

President & CEO

Kelly Coldiron is a public policy and government affairs professional with proven experience, with a passion for export promotion, advanced manufacturing and technology, foreign direct investment, and economic development. Ms. Coldiron is the President of KAI Strategies, LLC, a consulting firm that provides export solutions to small and medium-sized companies, and specialized strategies to navigate the federal government landscape.

She also serves as an Executive Advisor for External Affairs and Operations at mySilicon Compass, LLC, a strategic consulting practice that engages clients seeking to advance their technological competitiveness; grow international sales and market share; create and foster public-private partnerships; and expand jobs, advanced manufacturing, and research and development investments in emerging growth sectors in the United States.

Ms. Coldiron most recently served as Senior Advisor for External Affairs to the Assistant Secretary for Global Markets and Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service at the U.S. Department of Commerce, an appointment she held since February 2019. In this position, she was part of the leadership team that oversaw 1,400 trade and investment professionals based in more than 100 U.S. cities and 70 countries focused on export promotion, advocacy on behalf of U.S. companies competing for foreign government procurements, foreign direct investments, and trade barrier removal. During her tenure at the Department, the Global Markets team assisted more than 77,000 U.S. exporters, facilitated $296 billion in U.S. exports and investment, and supported 1.3 million American jobs, as reported to the Office of Management and Budget.

Ms. Coldiron led several interagency working groups to attract multibillion-dollar investment opportunities in the technology and innovation sectors for which she received the Director General’s Award – the highest honor presented by the Assistant Secretary for Global Markets in recognition of outstanding achievement. She spearheaded the organization’s external affairs and strategic communications initiatives. Having traveled to over 15 markets across the globe during her tenure, she led the direction and organization of trade missions, U.S. commercial advocacy, and investment attraction priorities—with a concentration in Asia and the Middle East. Prior to this role, she served as the U.S. Department of Commerce Director of the White House Liaison Office and Deputy Associate Director of the White House Office of Presidential Personnel, overseeing Presidential appointments, setting the policy agenda within several economic and regulatory focused U.S. department and agencies.

Prior to federal service, Ms. Coldiron held several senior roles as an intergovernmental affairs professional. She previously was the Deputy Director of Public Affairs to the State Treasurer of Ohio, serving as a lead liaison for local governments, organizations, and small and medium-sized businesses. She also served as a Constituent Relations Coordinator for former U.S. Congressman Mike Rogers (MI-8). She started her career with the Michigan Legislature and Governor’s office in public affairs and coalition building.

She is a proud leader to her community, currently serving as the Executive Director for the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), the largest 501(c)3 organization serving the Filipino American community. She has also served in several other Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) organizations.

She was named as top “50 Young Asian American Stars in Politics” by Asian Fortune in 2016 and was recipient of the “Top 40 AAPI Political Operatives and Public Affairs Professionals” award by the National Association of Asian Pacifics in Politics and Public Affairs” in 2018.

Ms. Coldiron graduated from Michigan State University with a B.A. in Political Science, and International Studies with a minor in Mandarin Chinese and Economics.