About

Kelly Oden

I grew up in New Orleans, a city where everything is a story. I was the kid reading on the playground, and later, the bartender collecting stories in local bars, music venues and New York City fine dining restaurants. I heard a thousand stories a night—some boring, some brilliant, all of them teaching me how people actually talk, what they care about, and when they’re faking it. That BS detector is still my most valuable editorial tool.

Over two decades in publishing, I’ve interviewed hundreds of people including business owners and artists, politicians and activists, CEOs and celebrities. Those conversations taught me which stories work and which ones don’t. I learned which stories actually land and which ones sound good but go nowhere. I learned when someone is performing versus when they are being real. And I learned that the most compelling stories aren’t always the most polished. They’re the ones that feel the most true.

As Executive Editor for Ballinger Publishing, I lead both editorial and creative direction. I assign and edit nearly every article. I conduct the high-profile interviews. I conceptualize the photo shoots. I work with my art director to shape how every publication looks and feels. I’ve helped transform a small-town print company into a modern publisher producing 100+ publications annually across print and digital platforms.

I’ve led editorial strategy and creative direction for nearly 2,000 publications—from monthly city magazines to weekly military newspapers, business journals to arts programs. From fashion shoots to food photography, feature stories to celebrity profiles, I shape both the stories we tell and how we tell them visually, ensuring content and design work together seamlessly.

I’m not just an editor. I’m an editorial and creative director who leads the complete reader experience—from first assignment to final cover.

BACKGROUND AT A GLANCE

Executive Editor, Ballinger Publishing (19+ years)
Editorial and creative direction
Conducted 100+ high-profile interviews
Conceptualized and produced hundreds of photo shoots
Led multiple publication redesigns
Freelance writer and editor (15+ years)
Master of Arts, Communication (Digital Journalism & Design)
Bachelor of Arts, English (summa cum laude)

SERVICE

Vice President, Board of Directors
Ever’man Cooperative Grocery & Café | 2013–present

Elected leader for a multi-location cooperative grocery dedicated to health equity, sustainability and community education.

Selected Contributions

Provide policy-level guidance and strategic oversight as part of a governance board that sets expectations and monitors results
Help shape the co-op’s long-term vision to align with cooperative principles, sustainability goals and community priorities
Review and monitor organizational performance in areas including impact reporting, communications priorities, member engagement and financial health
Promote cooperative identity through advocacy efforts, conference participation and partnerships within the co-op network
Foster strong governance practices, transparency and collaborative decision-making

EXPERTISE

Editorial Leadership

Editorial direction and strategy | Team leadership | Brand voice and visual identity | Editorial systems and workflows

Creative Direction

Creative direction | Cover design and layout direction | Fashion, food, home and product photography direction | Publication design and redesign oversight

Content Development

High-profile interview and profile writing | Newsletter development
Cross-platform storytelling

IMPACT DELIVERED

Nearly 100 high-profile interviews conducted and published
Lead editorial and creative direction for 2,000+ publications
Conceptualized and produced hundreds of photo shoots
Led multiple publication redesigns
Grew digital engagement 500%
Scaled social media from 0 to 15,000+
Expanded custom publishing revenue 300%

INDUSTRIES