Kelly Powers Baria is Vice President of Powers & Sons Construction. Experienced in strategic planning, general contracting, construction management, litigation consulting, and commercial and residential real estate, Kelly excels at building client relationships and leveraging new business opportunities. In her leadership role, Kelly is responsible for cultivating existing client relationships, identifying new markets and partnership opportunities, contract negotiation, talent development, and overseeing internal and external marketing strategies. Kelly also shares key management responsibilities for Powers & Sons’ operations in Chicago, Northeast Illinois, and Northwest Indiana.

She was instrumental in establishing Powers & Sons as a principal firm in the Lakeside Alliance, a five-firm joint venture managing construction of the new Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. Kelly is a managing partner of the Lakeside Alliance’s Executive Leadership team. She also co-leads their Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) work group. Kelly is the principal representing Powers & Sons as a founding member of the Chicago Community Builders Collective (CCBC), a nine-firm joint venture delivering the new $1.7 billion Bally’s Chicago.

Kelly is passionate about youth education and fostering opportunities for those underrepresented in the construction industry. She dedicates her time as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Lincoln Park Zoo and the Chicago Architecture Center. She serves on the Black Creativity Advisory Committee for the Museum of Science & Industry and is a Class of 2021 Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow. Kelly was one of 65 professionals recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business as a 2021 Notable Woman in Construction. She was also recognized by Crain’s on their 2021 Notable Black Leaders & Executives list. Kelly is a member of the Economic Club and the Commercial Club in Chicago. She graduated with distinction from Purdue University’s School of Civil Engineering in 1998.