Kelly Evans

Kelly Evans is a distinguished entrepreneurship and economic development leader with more than 26 years of experience advancing business growth, community development, and economic opportunity. She currently serves as Vice President of Entrepreneurship and Economic Development at the Chicago Urban League, where she leads the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. In this role, Kelly oversees initiatives that support entrepreneurs and small businesses from startup through scale, providing one-on-one counseling, technical assistance, cohort programming, and other resources designed to promote long-term sustainability across the Chicago region and beyond.

In addition to her leadership at the Chicago Urban League, Kelly is the Founder and Chief Brand Architect of BSpoke Brand Management Studio LLC, a premium brand architecture practice focused on helping small businesses become more clearly understood and recognized in the marketplace. Drawing on more than two decades of business development experience, she helps founders define their identity, positioning, messaging, and unique “only-ness.” Her approach emphasizes building brands from the inside out, beginning with strategic clarity rather than logos, aesthetics, or marketing tactics. Through BSpoke, Kelly works with entrepreneurs navigating growth, transition, and increased visibility to create distinctive and authentic brands.

Kelly’s career also includes leadership roles in community economic development, social justice, partnership development, and public service, including serving as Director of Community Integration at Cresco Labs and Chief of Staff for Illinois Senator Toi Hutchinson. A social worker by training, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Knox College and a master’s degree in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago. She is active in the economic development and business-support ecosystem through organizations and advisory groups including the International Economic Development Council and Cook County’s Economic Development Advisory Committee. Across her work, Kelly is committed to strengthening communities by expanding entrepreneurial opportunity, building meaningful partnerships, and helping businesses articulate the value that makes them uniquely positioned to succeed.