Gilda Kennedy led the development and implementation of programs and services for children and families with the South Carolina Department of Social Services and as a consultant for state and federal governmental agencies, such as the US Department of Health and Human services for over 30 years. Ms. Kennedy has been involved in the development, delivery, and evaluation of training programs in many areas to include skill training, workforce development, leadership development, supervision/management, fatherhood, and marriage. She has extensive leadership, budget management, and grant/contract development/management experience.

In addition, Ms. Kennedy has worked with a wide range of agencies with community collaborations, strategic planning, program management and assessment, management consulting, meeting facilitation, training and coaching. In her strategic planning roles, she has convened workgroups that included members of all levels within organizations, community partners, and government officials. Ms. Kennedy conducted focus groups with internal staff and external partners, collected and analyzed data, and facilitated meetings in which these groups assessed organizations to gather, analyze and organize information that identified issues detrimental to mission achievement and then developed and implemented continuous improvement plans and processes. She also trained and coached organizational staff through the implementation so that work would continue after consultation was completed and conducted follow-up meetings to monitor progress and recommend adjustments to strategic plans.