GROWTH & IMPACT WEEK SPEAKER LINEUP
The speakers at Growth and Impact Week are award-winning advisors, operators, and thought leaders who don’t just understand growth and impact, they execute it. Each speaker has been selected for their ability to translate methodology into real-world implementation, sharing how they’ve built in-demand practices through intentional, ROI-driven relationships with business owners. Expect candid perspectives, practical frameworks, and honest discussion around what works in today’s market, from client selection and trust-building to accountability, culture, and value creation. This is not a stage of theorists; it’s a room of practitioners committed to helping you apply what you learn and accelerate results in your firm.
Kelley Johnson
I have spent more than twenty years serving Founder and Family-owned service businesses, helping owners grow, scale, and eventually transition their life’s work with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
At Iconic Founders Group, we bring a collective...
ABOUT KELLEY
I have spent more than twenty years serving Founder and Family-owned service businesses, helping owners grow, scale, and eventually transition their life’s work with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
At Iconic Founders Group, we bring a collective perspective shaped by decades of firsthand experience on both the seller and buyer sides. Our Founder, Kory Mitchell, and Partner, Travis Rue, bring extensive buy-side advisory experience from both the client and investor perspectives, while my background centers on guiding growth, transitions, and integration. Together, we built Iconic Founders Group creating a "for Founders, by Founders" approach to M&A — one that honors the founder’s legacy while delivering exceptional results.
As a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) and Partner & Chief Growth Officer, I align our systems and strategies to support owners who are preparing for growth or exploring a sale. My focus is on integrating's CEPA's Value Acceleration Model into our grow and sell-side advisories, helping the Founders/Owners we support to unlock value, align strategy, and navigate one of the most defining seasons of their lives. I believe deeply in creating pathways that respect both the financial and emotional realities of ownership.
Outside of work, my greatest joy is my family - my husband, David, and our daughter, Ruby. Our story began when David and I literally caught a wave together surfing in Waikiki in 2017, and we've been riding life side by side ever since. Today, we have built a beautiful life in the mountains of Evergreen, Colorado, a place that reflects everything I value: clarity, connection, and a deep sense of purpose.
For me, business is always personal. Every Founder’s story is a legacy in motion, and it is my calling to help ensure that legacy continues with strength and intention.