By Patricia Anstett, Marissa Campo

Kelley Root expected a learning curve when she started a new job in March. She did not plan for a global pandemic and a complete halt in the normalcy of everyday life.

Without missing a beat, Root jumped right into her role as executive editor of Crain’s Detroit Business, directing and getting to know her new staff members through virtual meetings and phone calls. As a veteran writer and lover of competitive journalism, she is an expert at adapting to unfamiliar situations quickly.

Root’s career started at Michigan State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1989 and was a one-time editor-in-chief of the university’s State News. She has dedicated 30 years to being a reporter and editor in Grand Rapids and Detroit, most recently as managing editor of The Detroit News. At the News, she gained the respect of her peers overseeing coverage of Detroit’s bankruptcy and pulling together a talented team amidst industry cutbacks and the growing challenge of expanding print newspapers’ digital influence.

She is also the first woman to be recognized as part of the Media Room Spotlight campaign, an initiative of the Association for Women in Communications Detroit Chapter (AWC Detroit) to highlight media and journalism excellence in the Metro Detroit area. Root was nominated by Patricia Anstett, the Board Secretary for AWC Detroit and a seasoned fellow writer.

“Kelley is an accomplished and highly respected journalist who supports the advancement and success of women in the workplace,” said Anstett. “Her work ethic and career make her a true inspiration.”

Root manages to stay busy in her personal life as well. She describes herself as a fanatic tennis player and, although she bleeds Spartan green, is the proud mother of a University of Michigan student. Additionally, she serves as a board member for the Society of Professional Journalists Detroit Chapter (SPJ Detroit) and volunteers with Hospice of Michigan for pet visitations with Guppy, her rescue dog.

Congratulations to Kelley on her Media Room Spotlight recognition and new role at Crain’s Detroit Business!