Charles M. Kelley Senior Vice President, McGuireWoods Consulting LLC

Charles has spent more than a decade at the forefront of integrating data-driven strategies with traditional advocacy to shape, influence, and advance innovative public policy initiatives nationwide.

Drawing on a deep background in digital communications, public policy research, data analytics, and grassroots advocacy, he has advised more than 100 organizations – ranging from Fortune 25 companies all the way to citizen coalitions and non-profits – on how best to advocate for their issues and engage their stakeholders in an increasingly digital world.

A core focus of Charles’s practice is land use, with a particular emphasis on data center development and energy infrastructure. He has led or supported research, engagement, and advocacy strategies for major development projects across 16 states in just the past three years, helping clients navigate politically sensitive siting, permitting, and regulatory environments while aligning public opinion research and communications with policy and business objectives. His broader work also includes economic development, education, and gaming advocacy initiatives.

Before joining the firm in 2011, Charles gained significant hands-on experience in politics and government by directing a nonprofit advocacy organization, managing a re-election campaign, and advising on policy for then-Delegate (now Congressman) Ben Cline, and supporting Governor Bob McDonnell’s political action committee and successful gubernatorial campaign, along with several additional volunteer, internship, and campaign management roles. He also founded and operated a digital strategy firm focused primarily on political and small business clients.

Charles earned a B.A. in Political Science from Virginia Commonwealth University and is an alumnus of the University of Virginia’s Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership’s 2012 Political Leaders Program. Originally from western Virginia, he lives in Richmond with his wife, Amy, and their two children.