Kelly Youngstrom is the Director of Operations for Kern Venture Group. Kern Venture Group is the first organized fund headquartered in Kern County, California. It focuses on investing in companies and founders with origins or operations in Central California and a vision that will benefit the region. At Kern Venture Group, Kelly focuses on deal flow management, startup due diligence, and portfolio support. Prior to her time with Kern Venture Group, Kelly worked in corporate retail for a decade in various roles ranging from merchandising, financial planning, and inventory management.

Kelly attended the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics with a concentration in marketing and management. Currently she serves on Alta One Credit Union’s Supervisory Committee and is the President of the Panama Buena Vista School Board Citizen’s Oversight Committee. Kelly is the proud mom of four children and spends her free time volunteering as a Girl Scout troop leader and helping other local children focused activities.