Tom Kelly is a globally recognized expert on Industry 4.0 and its impact on business. As executive director and CEO of Automation Alley, Michigan’s Industry 4.0 knowledge center, Kelly oversees strategic planning and all ongoing activities for the organization, including programs and services designed to help businesses increase revenue, reduce costs and make strategic decisions during a time of rapid technological change.
Kelly joined Automation Alley in 2014. His previous roles included director of entrepreneurship and COO. Kelly came to Automation Alley after seven years as a technology business consultant for the state of Michigan’s Small Business Development Centers, where he actively coached more than 300 technology startups in advanced automotive, life sciences, homeland security and alternative energy industries. In addition, Kelly has launched three startup companies of his own.
Kelly is often tapped by media outlets to share his leadership and knowledge around Industry 4.0 and is regularly invited to speak at conferences and participate in panel discussions and roundtables. He has served on the Canadian National Research Council’s Peer Review Committee and is a current member of the World Economic Forum's Advanced Manufacturing Hub Working Group, the National Research Committee's Peer Review Committee, and is a board member of the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center and the Jackson Area Manufacturers Association.
Kelly has a bachelor’s in electrical engineering from Clarkson University and a master’s in business administration from the University of Michigan.