10 Things About Kelly
- When Kelly was born, she was featured in the newspaper for being the 16th child. As you can imagine, her last name is well known in the Phoenix Metro area due to her 10 brothers, 6 sisters, and 88 nieces and nephews. Kelly is an Arizona native, born and raised in the Higley/Queen Creek area, and graduated from Gilbert High School with honors and an A.I.M.E.S. scholarship (Achievements in Math, Engineering & Science). She had a knack for business early on and represented her high school in F.B.L.A. competitions (Future Business Leaders of America).
- Kelly is a “fixer” by nature, making her a perfect fit for her role. She believes that if you see a need, you should fill a need. Eager to start working and solving problems, she took on the responsibility of writing checks for her mother and balancing the family checkbook at just 11 years old. In junior high, she worked for her siblings’ pest control and heating & air conditioning companies, doing data entry. Just before turning 14, Kelly landed her first real job as an Office Administrator for the summer at Friendly House, a nonprofit organization.
- Kelly loves to learn new things. She has developed an extensive knowledge base through years of management experience in industries such as custom cabinetry, salons, magazine publishing, VoIP, and now finance. Kelly began her career with Martinsen Wealth in 2018.
- Kelly is a proud mother to her son, Orion. He is her pride and joy, and she loves sharing new experiences with him. For his 18th birthday, she kept the promise she made to him when he was 11—they went skydiving and got matching tattoos.
- Kelly comes from a family filled with strong role models. Her father was the sole provider, while her mother was the CEO of their household. With the help of the eldest children, the family was able to pull together financially to provide for everyone. After all the children left home, her mother started a nonprofit organization to stay engaged and bring awareness to critical community needs.
- With determination and a strong network, Kelly and her siblings have continued the charity projects and vision their mother established 20 years ago. In 2024, they renamed their longstanding nonprofit organization in her honor after she received the Town of Queen Creek Lifetime Achievement Award for her service to underserved communities. The Mary Gloria Foundation provides food boxes, college scholarships, senior programs, free health and wellness clinics, holiday programs, back-to-school supplies, and community restoration initiatives, among others. Kelly has served as a Board Member throughout the years, helping cultivate the organization’s mission and direction.
- Family traditions are important to Kelly. She and her cousins take pride in organizing family reunions and actively participate in monthly committee meetings to keep the tradition alive.
- When Kelly finds a break in her schedule, she enjoys hiking, volunteering, attending concerts, event planning, decorating, exploring, and creating art. Her artistic side is evident from the moment you meet her, and she’s always ready with recommendations for the newest restaurants and coolest activities. She has been hiking since childhood, a passion that stems from a family friend who took her on scenic hikes in search of the perfect magazine-worthy photograph.
- Kelly has a weakness for cheesecake and Asian cuisine. Her next dream vacation includes exploring the floating markets of Thailand.
- If you’re familiar with the DISC personality assessment, Kelly is a Precisionist CS. Her personality is often compared to Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Rosa Parks, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Martin Luther King Jr. Relationships matter deeply to her. She thrives on collaboration, finds joy in exchanging ideas, and takes pride in being part of a company that values employee contributions and fosters a culture of integrity.