Ryan Kelly joined MAPC in January 2019 to lead the Digital Services team. Ryan is driven to improve the way government understands and interacts with residents. He works to make the complex, understandable, and actionable. As Digital Services Manager, Ryan oversees MAPC’s digital product team and strategy, working internally across departments within the agency and directly with municipalities in the region. He leads a team of technology experts that build and design web applications and other data-driven online tools to find new and effective ways to improve decision-making in planning and policy work.

The Digital Services team is focused on creating digital storytelling and community engagement opportunities for MetroCommon, Boston’s next long-range regional plan. In addition, the team is leveraging DataCommon to develop innovative applications that bring data to life.

Ryan comes to MAPC from Rhode Island state government, where he served as Chief of Staff to Rhode Island’s Chief Digital/Information Officer. Ryan was responsible for managing the State’s centralized IT division’s budget and staffing along with IT project review. With the goal of driving transformation and hacking bureaucratic obstacles, Ryan managed a wide range of complex digital products, IT modernization efforts, and municipal collaborations. Including Rhode Island’s Department of Motor Vehicles legacy modernization data migration project and municipal finance open data efforts.

Ryan is formerly, an Urban Information Specialist with DataSpark. Where he developed interactive data stories and data tools to support policy decision making. Working directly with stakeholders, Ryan helped investigate and drive research into community issues. Supporting the digital tools and products with data literacy trainings and engagement. He has been an active member of community organizations including Providence Children and Youth Cabinet, Rhode Island Alliance for Healthy Homes, Rhode Island Food Policy Council, and co-founded Rhode Island’s volunteer Code for America brigade.

Through work with World Learning International Youth Programs and AmeriCorps VISTA in Providence RI Schools, Ryan developed a passion for enabling youth leadership, experiential learning, and intercultural communication. From building computers with youth to facilitating discussion about society he hopes to leverage these experiences to help reshape the metro region together.

Ryan holds B.A. from St. Joseph’s College of Maine in Political Science and Philosophy. He also studied Intercultural Service Leadership and Management at the School for International Training. With study abroad experience with Peking University in Beijing.

Areas of expertise: Civic Engagement, Civic Technology, Data Analysis, Web Application Development, User-centered Design, Geographic Information Systems, Hacking Municipal and State Government Bureaucracy