Kellen
Kellen is a full-service association management company founded in 1964 that provides operational, public affairs, and strategic services to trade and professional associations across healthcare, food & nutrition, industrial/manufacturing, and professional/consumer/government verticals, with offices in North America, Europe, and Asia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1964
- HeadquartersAtlanta, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Kellen does
Kellen is a full-service association management company (AMC) founded in 1964 and headquartered in Washington D.C. The company provides operational, strategic, and advocacy services to trade and professional associations across four primary verticals: Healthcare, Food & Nutrition, Industrial & Manufacturing, and Professional/Consumer/Government. With a stated global team of approximately 200 professionals, Kellen operates from four offices—Washington D.C. (corporate headquarters), Chicago, Brussels (European headquarters since 1988), and Beijing (Asia-Pacific)—serving a client base that includes 30+ European associations and comparable or larger U.S. exposure.
The company's core product is a proprietary AMC operating platform built and refined over more than 60 years, providing customizable operational frameworks for member engagement, board governance, financial management, and advocacy. Around this platform, Kellen offers twelve integrated service modules: Association Management, Public Affairs, Marketing & Digital, Meetings & Events, Membership, Education, Non-Dues Revenue Development, Finance & Accounting, Content & Editorial, Design, Technology, and Website Services. Thought leadership content is delivered through the Associations Unplugged Podcast, the monthly Capitol Compass Newsletter, and EU Insights publications. No APIs, mobile applications, AI/ML capabilities, patents, or technology integrations are disclosed.
Kellen's business model rests on two revenue streams: recurring association management fees (subscription-style contracts covering full-service management) and professional services revenue from specialized engagements including events, advocacy, marketing, non-dues revenue development, and technology solutions. Pricing is fully customized per client ("You provide the budget, and Kellen builds the roadmap") and not publicly disclosed. Client acquisition is primarily sales-led via RFP submissions, direct outreach, and referrals from within the association ecosystem, with supplemental demand generation through content marketing and industry events. The company is privately held with no parent company, no disclosed institutional investors, and no funding rounds.
Kellen firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kellen
- Legal name
- Kellen Company
- Website
- https://kellencompany.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1964
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Kellen is a full-service association management company founded in 1964 that provides operational, public affairs, and strategic services to trade and professional associations across healthcare, food & nutrition, industrial/manufacturing, and professional/consumer/government verticals, with offices in North America, Europe, and Asia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kellen industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Association Management Services
- NAICS
- Business Associations (813910), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Governance & Board Effectiveness Advisory (BPAHAFAC)
Keywords
Where Kellen is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Atlanta
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Kellen business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Association Management Fees: Kellen generates revenue by providing full-service association management to trade and professional associations, charging fees for comprehensive management solutions including operations, governance, membership, advocacy, and strategic services.
- Professional Services Revenue: Additional revenue streams from specialized services including public affairs, marketing and digital, meetings and event management, education programs, non-dues revenue development, finance and accounting, and technology solutions provided to client associations.
- Event and Conference Management: Revenue generated from planning and executing meetings, conferences, and events for client associations, including logistics, sponsorships, and content development.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
Kellen product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kellen is a full-service association management company (AMC) that provides operational management, governance, public affairs, membership, marketing, meetings, education, and financial services to trade and professional associations. Its offerings are organized into modular service lines — Association Management, Public Affairs, Marketing & Digital, Meetings & Events, Membership, Education, Non-Dues Revenue, Finance & Accounting, Content & Editorial, Design, Technology, and Website Services — delivered under a proprietary operating platform refined over 60+ years.
Product overview
Kellen is a full-service association management company (AMC) offering a comprehensive suite of management solutions organized as integrated service modules. The core offering consists of Association Management as the central platform, supported by specialized services including Public Affairs, Marketing & Digital, Meetings & Events, Membership, Education, Non-Dues Revenue, Finance & Accounting, Content & Editorial, Design, Technology, and Website Services. These modular services work together to provide holistic association management, with technology serving as an enabling layer across all operations. Additionally, Kellen produces thought leadership content through the Associations Unplugged Podcast and Capitol Compass Newsletter.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Association Management Core AMC service providing operational frameworks, board governance, and member engagement strategies for trade and professional associations.
- Public Affairs
- Marketing & Digital
- Meetings & Events
- Membership
- Education
- Non-Dues Revenue
- Finance & Accounting
- Content & Editorial
- Design
- Technology
- Website Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Social media and on-site interview strategy generated a 1,400% increase in followers and a 3,700% increase in website traffic for a nonprofit association's annual event
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Kellen
Customer profileNamed customers22 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Kellen technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Kellen partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- SandpipercoreKellen and Sandpiper, a leading independent reputation management, public affairs and strategic communications consultancy headquartered in Asia Pacific, launched collaborative work in the Asia-Pacific region in May 2025. The collaboration pairs Kellen Asia's deep expertise in association management, operations, and stakeholder engagement with Sandpiper's capabilities in strategic communications, public affairs, and market research to deliver high-quality, results-driven services for associations and companies operating in the Asia-Pacific region.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Kellen competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SmithBucklin: SmithBucklin is the largest association management company in the U.S., offering full-service AMC services across multiple verticals. It is Kellen's most direct peer, competing for the same trade and professional association clients with comparable service modules including public affairs, events, and membership.
- Association Management Group (AMG): AMG provides full-service association management, finance, and meeting services to nonprofit trade and professional associations. Directly comparable to Kellen in scope, scale, and target customer base.
- Association Headquarters (AH): AH is a full-service AMC serving trade and professional associations with management, meetings, and member services. Offers nearly identical service portfolio to Kellen and competes for similar mid-sized association clients.
- Virtual, Inc. Virtual, Inc. provides association management, event management, and strategic services primarily to technology and healthcare-related associations. Directly comparable in service model with a similar vertical focus on regulated industries.
- Ewald Consulting: Ewald Consulting is a full-service AMC headquartered in Minnesota serving trade associations, professional societies, and nonprofit organizations. Directly comparable to Kellen in service breadth and target client profile.
- The Association Company (Asco): Specialized AMC providing full-service management for trade and professional associations with a comparable service model to Kellen. Particularly focused on associations needing advocacy, events, and member services support.
- Management Solutions Plus: Management Solutions Plus provides association management, financial services, and meeting planning for trade and professional associations. Directly comparable AMC with similar mid-sized scope and service portfolio.
Broad incumbents
- MCI Group: MCI Group is a global events, association, and communications company serving associations, governments, and corporations worldwide. Overlaps with Kellen's meetings, events, and association management capabilities but operates at much larger global scale across many service lines beyond AMCs.
Others
- ASAE (American Society of Association Executives): ASAE is the trade body and professional membership society for the association management industry. While not a direct competitor, ASAE shapes AMC industry standards, certification (CAE credential), and peer benchmarking relevant to Kellen's competitive context.
- AMC Institute: AMC Institute is the trade association of association management companies, of which Kellen is a member. While not a competitor, it defines industry quality standards and peer accreditation that frame the competitive landscape in which Kellen operates.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kellen social profiles
Digital presenceKellen financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kellen leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Kellen funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kellen M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kellen
What does Kellen do?
Kellen is a full-service association management company (AMC) that provides operational management, governance, public affairs, membership, marketing, meetings, education, and financial services to trade and professional associations. Its offerings are organized into modular service lines — Association Management, Public Affairs, Marketing & Digital, Meetings & Events, Membership, Education, Non-Dues Revenue, Finance & Accounting, Content & Editorial, Design, Technology, and Website Services — delivered under a proprietary operating platform refined over 60+ years.
Is Kellen a public or private company?
Kellen is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Kellen founded?
Kellen was founded in 1964. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Kellen based?
Kellen is headquartered in Atlanta, United States, in the North America region.
How does Kellen make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Association Management Fees are the primary driver. The others are professional Services Revenue and event and Conference Management.
Who are Kellen's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SmithBucklin, Association Management Group (AMG), Association Headquarters (AH), Virtual, Inc., Ewald Consulting, The Association Company (Asco) and Management Solutions Plus. MCI Group is listed as a broad incumbent. Others are ASAE (American Society of Association Executives) and AMC Institute.
Does Kellen have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kellen.
What industry is Kellen in?
Kellen's product category is Association Management Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHACAA, Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies), with a secondary code of BPAHAFAC, Governance & Board Effectiveness Advisory. Its NAICS code is 813910 and its SIC code is 8600.