Job description: Kelly started at Sowinski Sullivan in 2011 as a senior architect, working exclusively to design and manage rail station and maintenance facility projects across the country. In 2015, she was promoted to VP of operations and is now responsible for managing the firm's 65-person staff. In addition, Kelly serves as lead architect and/or prime project manager for a variety of rail projects for railroads, including Amtrak.

Why she's influential as a leader: Kelly has helped lead the firm's evolution as a leader in railroad and transportation architecture. For example, her leadership in implementing accessibility improvements to a downtown Philadelphia subway station enabled the firm to contribute to another 30 station projects throughout SEPTA's network. Similarly, her collaboration with Amtrak led to a long-term partnership with the railroad to contribute to over 60 station improvements and a dozen facility projects for Amtrak, state transportation departments or local agencies. Today she serves as the station design lead in support of the $3 billion Penn Station access project, where she is responsible for the design of four new commuter-rail stations in the Bronx, New York.

Her impact on railroad projects is felt beyond the firm's design work: Teams outside the firm have enlisted her support as a third-party expert on major railroad infrastructure projects.

Kelly is active in the Philadelphia chapter of Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS), where she serves as chapter secretary. She has advocated for young women to participate in the Emerging Leaders program, volunteered to speak at Emerging Leaders and small business panel events, organized large scale events that celebrate other women's successes and mentored young professionals in transportation.