In 2009, Kelly purchased a bank consulting firm that was founded in 1986 by a colleague and renamed it Karns Profit Improvement^®.  The company’s customers enjoy lower costs, reduced risk and improved service because they are empowered to strategically manage their third-party vendors.

Kelly is a third generation banker and learned banking from the bottom up.  He performed the duties of CFO and COO for 12 of his 20 plus years as a bank executive. Managing both retail and private banking, he worked with a team that grew the San Antonio market from 1 to 17 locations through denovo branches and acquisitions. He was given the opportunity to gain extensive experience in revenue growth, cost cutting and organizational restructuring. His background also includes loan review, serving on the board of directors and executive experience in trust, investment and insurance activities.

Kelly has a Bachelor of Science in Finance, an MBA and served in the US Marine Corps. He was an honor graduate of the Oklahoma Bankers Association Commercial Lending School and has held several securities licenses. Kelly serves on the faculty of the Executive Development Institute for Community Bankers^® at the Graduate School of Banking Colorado and has previously served at the Southwest Graduate School of Banking. Outside of banking, Kelly served as controller for a publicly traded distribution company and has taught as adjunct faculty for several universities.