Our Next Speaker

Kelly Till, President Richmond Times Dispatch; "The Role of Newspapers in Society Today"

Kelly Till is the first woman president and publisher to lead the Richmond Times-Dispatch in its 173-year history. Kelly, a 28-year veteran of the media industry, also serves as regional vice president of sales for all Lee Enterprises Inc. Virginia markets. Till became vice president of sales for The Times-Dispatch and Lee’s Virginia markets in November 2020 after serving as vice president of advertising at The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press.

The Times-Dispatch has been a top performer across the 77 markets served by Lee Enterprises and has acted as a corporate laboratory for new opportunities to address the region’s large local audience. President Till is credited with pioneering several new programs for Lee, including the launch of Virginia Video Network, a full-service video studio and news network, the continued expansion of the Amplified Digital advertising program across the region, and the creation of En Forme, a statewide lifestyle magazine.

Till has earned numerous honors, including the 2023 Women in Leadership Award by Virginia Business and the Old Dominion University 2022 Distinguished Alumni award. She serves on several boards across Virginia, including the United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg, American Heart Association, Virginia Arts Festival, Chamber RVA, the Old Dominion Athletic Foundation, and An Achievable Dream. She also is a member of the Women’s Initiative Network and mentors first generation female students at ODU. She earned her BSBA in Marketing from ODU in 1994. Till and her husband, Keith, live in Richmond and have five children blended.