Native to Annapolis, MD, Brendan Kelly is the owner and CEO of several businesses including Smartlink, Driven, and Kelly Group Investments.

In 2000, Kelly saw an opportunity in the communications industry and launched Smartlink to fulfill staffing needs for communications companies. The company started with only two employees and has grown to over 500 employees nationwide today.

In 2006, Smartlink expanded to include a services division, enabling start-to-finish management of new site builds, upgrades, land acquisitions and more for leading communications companies. In 2010, Smartlink became a national player when it landed major contracts with a countrywide presence and in 2014, Smartlink added IT to its existing fields of specialty.

Kelly’s plan has continued to unfold through several strategic acquisitions including RealCom Associates in 2012, a Seattle-based site development and staffing firm. This acquisition accelerated Smartlink’s national footprint, adding offices in several key cities in the Pacific Northwest.  In 2019, two additional acquisitions of The Brogdon Group, a network asset management company based in Birmingham, Alabama and System Integrators, a telecommunications construction company out of northwest Maryland, have fueled Smartlink’s goal of providing end-to-end network lifecycle support to its customers.

Kelly’s diverse entrepreneurial portfolio has led to several individual honors and awards. He was named one of What’s Up Annapolis’ People to Watch in 2011. In 2012, he was named a Business Leader of the Year Nominee from the Annapolis and Anne Arundel Chamber of Commerce and was featured on the cover of SmartCEO magazine as part of their Entrepreneur issue, “Eye on the Ball.” Ernst & Young named Kelly an Entrepreneur Of The Year® Regional Award Winner and National Finalist in 2013, one of the most prestigious business awards for entrepreneurs. On February 5th, 2015, Brendan was honored at Salisbury University’s Business Leadership Award Luncheon, held by the Franklin P. Perdue School of Business.

Additionally, Brendan has lead Smartlink to impressive accolades for its strides in business. Smartlink was named one of SmartCEO’s 100 Best Run Companies in 2012 and received the 2014 Supplier Growth Award from Verizon/Pontoon Solutions for its expansive success in both employee placements and revenue on Verizon projects.

Smartlink and The Chesapeake Bayhawks were jointly nominated for the Don Riddle Corporate Citizenship Award in 2013, sponsored by the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce, for their extensive involvement in the community.

Kelly currently resides in Annapolis, MD with his wife and five children.