Terri Kelly joined Gore as a process engineer in 1983 after graduating summa cum laude from the University of Delaware with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. In her early years with the company, she gained experience as a product specialist with the military fabrics business — a unit she eventually led — helping it grow from a small start-up venture into a leading producer of protective products for the global armed forces.

In 1998, Kelly became part of the leadership team for the global Fabrics Division. In this role, she helped establish a fabrics manufacturing plant in Shenzhen, China — Gore’s first fabrics plant in Asia. Kelly earned the title of president and CEO in 2005 following a peer-driven selection process. Today W.L. Gore is a a multi-billion dollar enterprise that employs more than 8,000 associates in 45 plants around the world.

In addition to her role at Gore, Kelly is a member of the Management Executives’ Society, the Forum of Executive Women of Delaware and the International Women’s Forum.