Meet Our Founder

Kelli Walker Starrett

Founder & CEO

Kelli Walker Starrett is a government relations consultant with over 18 years of experience in the local, state, and federal government. She has worked on a variety of issues, including real estate, insurance, and disaster preparedness and response. She is skilled in all aspects of lobbying, from building relationships with policymakers to crafting persuasive arguments. Kelli is a strategic thinker with a proven track record of success. She is passionate about representing the interests of her clients and making a difference for them and the community. She is also a strong advocate for transparency and accountability in government, as well as diversity and inclusion in politics.

Prior to founding WSPA, Kelli served as the Senior Vice President and Director of Governmental Relations for the New Orleans Metropolitan Association of REALTORS®, where she represented more than 6,500 REALTORS® in the New Orleans metro area on policy issues impacting real estate. She also served as Legislative Assistant to a local State Senator and as Voluntary Agency Liaison for FEMA. A native of Louisiana, Kelli has a B.A. in Political Science from Northwestern State University of Louisiana and a Graduate Certificate in Emergency Management from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She currently resides in New Orleans with her husband, daughter, and rescue dog.

Connect with Kelli on LinkedIn

Experience and Honors

Coalition for Sustainable Flood Insurance: Member (May 2013 - Present)
Ellevate Louisiana: Sustaining Member (Feb 2023 - Present)
Jefferson Urban Mitigation Professionals: Stakeholder Member (2015-Present)
Biz New Orleans 500 (2023)
National Association of REALTORS® Government Affairs Directors Advisory Group: Chair (2021), Vice Chair (2020)
Outstanding Millennial in Real Estate Award Winner (2015)
Louisiana REALTORS® Bill Review Committee: Member (2013-2022)
NAR REALTOR® Party Member involvement Committee: Member (2021-2022)
NAR Business Issues Policy Committee: Member (2020)
NAR Insurance Committee: Member (2018-2019)
NAR Sustainability Advisory Group: Member (2019)
NAR Commercial Legislation & Regulatory Advisory Board: Member (2014-2016)
NAR State & Local Issues Mobilization Support Committee: Member (2016)

Selected Presentations

Why Advocacy Matters | Speaker, Bluegrass REALTORS® (2023)
Risk Rating 2.0: How Can REALTORS® and Builders Make a Difference? | Speaker, Northshore Homebuilders Association (2022)
Policy in Practice: Local Advocacy Efforts | Speaker, National Association of REALTORS® (2021)
Engaging State & Local Associations on Sustainability in Real Estate | Speaker, National Association of REALTORS® (2017)
Building Successful Coalitions | Panelist, National Association of REALTORS® (2017)
Making Sense of the State Budget Deficit | Speaker, Women’s Council of REALTORS® New Orleans (2016)
The Next Big Environmental Issue and What It Means for Real Estate | Speaker, National Association of REALTORS® (2014)
Reactivating Commercial Spaces: Better Block NOLA and the Dew Drop Inn | Speaker, National Association of REALTORS® (2014)
Flood Insurance Rate Increases and State & Local Level Remedies | Speaker, National Association of REALTORS® (2013)
Nuts & Bolts of Flood Insurance Rates & Quotes | Speaker, National Association of REALTORS® (2013)

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