Kelly Maxwell’s career began in hospitality, and she carries that approach toward customer service over into her latest role, as executive director of the nonprofit organization Baby’s Bounty.
“I do not differentiate between guests in a five-star hotel and a diaper bank client of Baby’s Bounty,” she says. “Our clients are in a vulnerable place in their lives, pregnant or with a new baby and without adequate resources. We take very personally the obligation to extend kindness, dignity and respect to each and every one of them.”
Baby’s Bounty, founded in 2008, aims to educate and supply tools to families in need, to ensure a good start for every baby.
How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect Baby’s Bounty?
Like nearly all organizations, we instituted social distancing, sanitization procedures and mask requirements in the office. We pivoted to an online education model versus the in-person classes that we had been teaching pre-pandemic, and created touchless delivery of our Baby Bundles. The most profound change has been the creation of diaper banks in Las Vegas and Henderson. Baby’s Bounty’s diaper banks have since provided diapers to over 8,000 families, and distributed over 330,000 diapers and over a million wipes.
Explain your approach to fundraising and how you’ve been successful in that role.
Instead of looking at money as the ultimate goal, I look at fundraising as providing an opportunity for individuals and corporations to participate in uplifting the community, which is inherently what they already want to do. For example, the creation of the diaper banks has enabled corporations to directly fund these essential supplies and get them into the hands of needy families each week.
What can the community do to help your organization?
Baby’s Bounty has negotiated bulk pricing with diaper manufacturers and wholesalers, thus cash donations to us are not only welcome but allow us to buy at better rates than the general public. We understand that not everyone is comfortable making monetary donations and might prefer to donate product. We always accept new, unopened packages of diapers, wipes and baby toiletries.
What is the best business advice you’ve received?
The best advice I received about business was not verbalized. My stepfather is an entrepreneur who started a transportation business in the 1970s. I watched as he, with all of the odds stacked against him, fully committed to being successful. That success came by way of relentless hard work, and quite often 18-plus hour days to ensure his business thrived. The message was perhaps even more clear than if I was told: Success is an inevitable byproduct if you’re committed to hard work, each and every day.
If you could change one thing about Southern Nevada, what would it be?
I would like to see Nevada consistently ranking higher in education. Teachers and administrators are hard-working, dedicated professionals who deserve the infrastructure and support they need to achieve successful outcomes. Our students are entitled to our full and unwavering commitment to providing them with a world-class education.
What’s the biggest issue facing Southern Nevada?
Water. As a renowned vacation destination and a growing metropolis, ensuring our resources can meet the needs of our expanding population and the tourism industry is critical to the future of our community and economy. We need to be successful in both innovation as well as conservation to make the kind of lasting impact our city requires.
What are you reading right now? Or binge-watching?
I recently finished Bob Iger’s memoir, “The Ride of a Lifetime.” At its core, it’s really a roadmap for inspired leadership. Iger is compassionate and fair-minded with a tremendous amount of insight and experience. It has been fantastic training to focus my mind on creative solutions. As for binge-watching, I just finished “Fran Lebowitz: Pretend it’s a City,” directed by Martin Scorsese. She’s quirky and complicated and made for a great subject.
What do you do after work or on weekends?
I continue to seek out activities that feel COVID-safe. I am currently playing tennis both in a league as well as with my teenage daughter. I recently started playing pickleball and am teaching myself to roll sushi.
What is your dream job, outside of your current field? Why?
In continuing to find ways to serve the community, I would love to work in state or local government, creating policy to meet the needs of my constituents. Working in nonprofits has been eye-opening for me, illuminating the opportunities and obstacles inherent in government agencies. I have collaborated with many elected officials on recent projects and have been inspired by their dedication to our community.
Whom do you admire and why?
I have tremendous admiration and respect for Nancy Brinker, founder of the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Since its inception, the organization has raised over $3 billion for breast cancer research, fundamentally changing health outcomes for millions of women around the world, fulfilling a promise she made to her dying sister. Nancy Brinker used her marketing background to create partnerships with large, multinational corporations who raced to affiliate themselves with the pink ribbon campaign. She has beautifully honored her sister with her creativity, excellence and innovation.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
For most who know me, it will come as no surprise that my biggest pet peeve is clutter. Both my home and workspace need to be tidy and organized for me to perform at my best. It is particularly important for us to remain organized here at Baby’s Bounty because, at any given time, our warehouse holds 50-60 car seats and cribs, over 11,000 articles of newborn clothing and tens of thousands of diapers, wipes and baby toiletries.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I would love to be able to play an instrument or be talented in music in any capacity. I know my mother is going to read this and call to remind me about all of those piano recitals and ballet classes she carted me to as young child. Sadly, it didn’t stick.
What is something that people might not know about you?
I’m a certified sommelier. It was a challenging experience and a great excuse to sample a lot of fabulous wines.