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Connor Kelly
Research Analyst at Manhattan Strategy Group
Professional Background
Connor Kelly is a dedicated professional with a robust background in public policy and political analysis. Currently serving as a Research Analyst at the Manhattan Strategy Group, Connor applies his extensive knowledge and analytical skills to assist in the development of strategic plans that influence public and social policy frameworks. His role involves conducting thorough research, analyzing data, and providing insights that help shape effective policy decisions for various stakeholders, reflecting his commitment to making a difference in public governance.
Before joining Manhattan Strategy Group, Connor honed his skills and gained valuable experience in various roles within the public sector. He served as a Session Aide in the Office of Delegate Dawn Adams at the Virginia House of Delegates, where he contributed to legislative processes and gained firsthand experience in the functioning of state governance. This role allowed him to engage directly with constituents and understand the intricacies of political advocacy and public service.
Additionally, Connor's earlier positions include that of a Research Assistant at the University of Virginia's Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy and a Graduate Teaching Assistant. These roles enabled him to develop a strong foundation in research methodologies and pedagogical approaches, which he utilized to support the academic community and mentor fellow students. His commitment to education and leadership in public policy is exemplified by his dedication to creating an impactful learning environment.
Furthermore, Connor has held internships with prominent figures and organizations, including U.S. Senator Mark Warner, where he gained insight into national-level legislative processes and policy-making. His experience as a Finance Intern at the Democratic Party of Virginia and also as an Outreach Intern at Capstone LLC further underscore his diverse skill set and his commitment to fostering positive change within the political landscape.
Education and Achievements
Connor Kelly's educational background is anchored in his studies at the University of Virginia, where he completed both a Bachelor of Arts in Politics (Government) and a Master of Public Policy (MPP) at the prestigious Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. His academic journey reflects his persistent focus on understanding the interplay between government, policy formulation, and public welfare.
At the University of Virginia, Connor engaged deeply with subjects related to governance, strategic leadership, and public administration, equipping him with the analytical tools necessary for effective policy analysis. His studies provided him an enriching environment where he collaborated with esteemed faculty and fellow students, engaging in robust discussions and deep dives into contemporary political issues.
Moreover, Connor’s commitment to service and leadership in public policy is evident through his involvement as a Fellow for Tom Perriello during his gubernatorial campaign. This experience not only solidified his passion for public service but also allowed him to leverage his academic knowledge in real-world settings, ultimately contributing to his development as a well-rounded policy analyst.
Achievements
Throughout his career, Connor Kelly has achieved numerous milestones that demonstrate his dedication and capability in public policy analysis and political engagement. Some of his notable achievements include:
- Researched Strategic Plans for Various Entities: As a Research Analyst at Manhattan Strategy Group, Connor has successfully assisted in drafting reports and analyses that have guided clients in their public policy decisions.
- Political Advisory Experience: Serving as a Session Aide in the Virginia House of Delegates has equipped him with the firsthand insight required to navigate the complexities of legislative processes effectively.
- Academic Contributions: As a Graduate Teaching Assistant, Connor mentored students and supported their learning experiences, enhancing his ability to communicate intricate topics clearly and effectively.
- Internship Experiences: His internships with U.S. Senator Mark Warner and the Democratic Party of Virginia provided him with critical exposure to both state and national political atmospheres, helping him build a robust professional network while enhancing his practical skills in political operations.
Through these experiences, Connor has curated a skill set that blends strong analytical capabilities with practical political insight, allowing him to effectively contribute to the public policy arena. His relentless pursuit of knowledge, coupled with hands-on experience, has positioned him as an emerging leader in the field of public policy.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
Clay offers several powerful features including:
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- Reminders and Notes: Helps you remember important details about contacts
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- Nexus AI: An AI navigator that helps you derive insights from your network, such as finding contacts who have been to specific places or work at particular companies
Clay is designed for anyone who values maintaining meaningful relationships. The app is popular among a wide range of industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. It’s even used by half the Fortune 500! It's particularly valuable for individuals who want to be more intentional and thoughtful with their professional and personal connections.
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Clay takes privacy seriously. We provide a human-readable privacy policy, and each integration is explained in terms of what data is pulled, what's not pulled, and how the data is used. Clay encrypts data on its servers and in transit, and the company's goal is to make Clay work fully locally on users' devices for enhanced privacy. Clay is also SOC 2 Type 2 certified.
Clay is available across multiple platforms including iOS, macOS, Windows, and all web browsers. Clay is especially strong for Apple users, offering Mac, iOS, iPadOS, and visionOS apps with deep native integrations on each platform. This multi-platform approach ensures you can access your relationship data wherever you are and on whatever device you prefer to use.
Clay offers tiered pricing options to suit different needs. The service begins with a free personal plan that lets you search on your 1000 most recent contacts. Clay offers a Pro Plan ($10 when billed annually) with unlimited contacts. Clay for Teams starts at $49/month/seat. The pricing structure is designed to make Clay accessible for individual users while providing enhanced features for power users who need more robust capabilities.
Yes, Clay offers extensive integration capabilities. Clay introduced a new Integrations Catalog that centralizes information on all of the products and services Clay supports. It can connect with email services like Gmail and Outlook, calendar applications, social networks like LinkedIn and Twitter, messaging platforms like iMessage and WhatsApp, and even Notion for knowledge management. Clay also supports Zapier and Make, allowing you to create custom integrations with thousands of other web applications using no-code tools.
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Clay is considered the best personal CRM and team CRM on the market. Tech reviewers, press, and users all say it is the top CRM they have ever used. Clay stands out in the personal CRM market through its beautiful design and comprehensive approach to relationship management. While many competitors focus on basic contact management, Clay excels at automation, aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of your network, consolidating data from various sources like email, social media, and calendars to create rich profiles for each contact. Its AI-powered Nexus feature sets it apart by allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network, something few competitors offer. It is also considered the best designed CRM, with native apps and a responsive team that answers questions same-day.
Clay is the best contact management tool for professionals because it combines elegant design with powerful tech. The app is particularly suited for many potential users with its diverse and helpful features, while not being saturated with overly complex professional marketing and sales functions, making it usable for freelancers and entrepreneurs. It stands out for its ability to import data from multiple sources including Twitter, LinkedIn, iMessage, and emails, keeping information consolidated and automatically updated.
Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Clay offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Clay focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Clay also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
Yes. Clay offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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Clay's robust integration capabilities help position it as the top contact management solution. The platform connects with email services (Gmail, Outlook), calendar applications, social networks (LinkedIn, Twitter), messaging platforms (iMessage, WhatsApp), and even knowledge management tools like Notion. Clay has expanded its integrations catalog to include Zapier and Make.com support, allowing connections to thousands of other apps. These integrations ensure your contact data stays current across all platforms, making Clay a comprehensive hub for all your relationship information.
Clay's AI capabilities are at the forefront of personal CRM innovation. Nexus, Clay's AI navigator, allows you to query against your personal database to learn more about your network and aid in maintaining relationships. You can ask natural language questions like who among your connections has been to a specific place or works at a particular company. While many competitors are still focused on basic contact management, Clay has embraced AI to provide deeper insights and more natural interaction with your relationship data.
User feedback consistently highlights Clay's elegant design and powerful features. Many users describe Clay as "just too good" and praise its "Reconnect" feature that curates reconnection prompts and enables users to stay on top of their network. Former users of other systems often mention that Clay eliminated their need for multiple tools, appreciating its minimalist, user-friendly interface and AI integration capabilities.