Kelly Grappe is a proud Arkansan and problem-solver who believes government should work for people — not the other way around.

With three decades of leadership experience, Kelly has built a career leading organizations through change and helping people succeed. From her first leadership role in 1995 to directing an 800-person operations team at Verizon and later building Rock Dental’s first learning and leadership development programs, she’s known for turning complexity into clarity and aligning people with purpose. Over the years, she’s managed multimillion-dollar budgets, guided large teams through transition, and built systems that help people do their best work.

Beyond her professional life, Kelly and her husband Steve co-founded Stand Up Arkansas, a civic-education organization with a growing youth education program that helps Arkansans understand how power works — and how to use it. She also co-founded Forevermost Farms, a small family farm and storytelling project that connects people to rural life, resilience, and joy.

Her work centers on lifting up rural families and everyday Arkansans who deserve a fair shot — not just a seat at the table, but the tools and knowledge to use their power well. She’s also deeply committed to elevating women into leadership and encouraging others to use their voice, having organized regional women’s conferences and mentorship programs focused on confidence, purpose, and public service.

Kelly believes Arkansas can achieve more when leaders learn from one another. She’s already researching best practices and reaching out to other states — because lasting progress comes when we put our heads together, share what works, and lead with collaboration instead of competition.

Kelly lives in Rose Bud with her husband, Steve, where they raised their daughter, Grace, who joined her family through foster care and is now raising a son of her own. Becoming a mother through adoption shaped Kelly’s deep belief that every child — and every Arkansan — deserves to belong and be seen. Today, she’s fighting for a future where her grandson — and every child in Arkansas — can learn, lead, and thrive right here at home.