Karen Kelly cofounded the National Rx and Illicit Drug Summit in 2012 with Congressman Hal Rogers (KY-05), while he was Chairman of the powerful U.S. House Appropriations Committee. The summit came to fruition while Kelly was serving as President and CEO of Operation UNITE in Kentucky’s Appalachian region, the epicenter of the prescription drug abuse epidemic. Together, they had the foresight to take UNITE’s multi-pronged approach, including law enforcement, treatment, and education, to the national stage in effort to break down the barriers between industries battling the same crisis. The Rx Summit has grown from 750 attendees the first year to an average of more than 3,000 attendees, making it the largest gathering of its kind in the United States.

Kelly went on to serve as Chairman Rogers’ District Director in Kentucky for nine years, facilitating the execution of federal projects, managing communications with constituents and state and local officials, and coordinating events, emergency disaster relief efforts, and grassroots advocacy. Kelly is now a Principal for Cornerstone Government Affairs, a full service bipartisan, employee-owned consulting firm specializing in federal and state government relations, public affairs, and strategic communications.