In her role as Gresham Smith’s chief development and engagement officer (CDO), Kelly Knight Hodges oversees recruitment, retention and the firm’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging program, as well as the professional development and growth of our employees. Kelly also leads Gresham Smith’s community, civic and client engagement efforts across our 26 office locations. She joined Gresham Smith’s board of directors in 2020, where she sits on the board’s Compensation Committee.
Kelly has a proven track record of success over her 20+ years at the firm, having served in a variety of technical, operational and client-development roles, where she has consistently demonstrated a compassionate leadership style and an ability to foster enduring client relationships. Recognized and highly respected within the Nashville business community, she was named a “Woman of Influence” by the Nashville Business Journal for her outstanding contributions to Gresham Smith and her leadership in the community. Kelly is a member of the board of directors for the NAIOP Nashville chapter, where she serves as president of the Executive Committee. Additionally, she sits on the board of directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee and serves as a board member of the Nashville Downtown Partnership.
Before taking on her role as CDO, Kelly previously held the position of market vice president for the firm’s Life and Work Places group, where she led the market’s operations in Nashville, Atlanta, Charlotte and Tampa.
