As long as I can remember I worked with my father in the construction field. I learned the value of working hard and doing a job right. Of course I also learned everything about construction from reading blue prints to finishing drywall. The construction skills I now use in my personal life. The values are part of my core beliefs and have served me well over the years. Below is a chronological background of my professional career.
1975 & 1976 I worked after school in a small tropical fish store. The owner was a nice guy who worked in the mill by day and ran his business in the evenings and on weekends. He also sold, built and maintained aquariums for many of the local doctor and dentist offices in town. While working there I met a customer who was very impressed by the way I handled myself at such a young age. He gave me a book called "How To Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie.This was the start of an understanding that the way people react to us can be changed by learning and practicing different/desired behaviors...VALUABLE LESSON!
Summer 1977 I became a foreman on a roofing crew where I got my first taste of management. At the young age of 16, none of the roofers respected me at first. I quickly figured out that yelling at them did not produce results. I had to prove my worth and knowledge to them before they would have any respect for me or my position. After about three weeks of out working them while directing the jobs from arrival through completion they had no problems taking orders from a "kid."
Summer 1978 I took a position as an Assistant Manager at the local drive-in theater. There I ran the concession stand and the box office. No only did I learn how to run a Xenon projector, but I got my first taste of inventory control and managing people who were not construction workers.
1979 After graduating with a degree in Residential and Industrial Electricity I started working as an Electrician for a contractor. Although I did well monetarily, I was not happy in my work like I was when I was selling or managing.
1980 I joined Eddie Radio Company which was a small retail store (5 employees) in Pittsburgh that sold and installed car electronics. As I continued to read more books and take programs on selling and managing, sales continued to grow. By 1983 I had negotiated with a local chain of electronics stores to do car electronics installations throughout the tri-state area and our mobile division was born. By the time I left we had expanded into the building next door, had 3 mobile units and 13 installers.
1986 I was recruited by Tandy Corporation to move to Texas and to become a DIstrict Manager and assist in their expansion of retail electronics and appliance stores. I opened my first store in Killeen Texas, just outside the main gates of Fort Hood Army Base. As we grew my role expanded to more training and more responsibility. There I met Ron Hill who was the Director of Training for North American Phillips Corporation. He was the key note speaker/trainer at a notional meeting I was attending. After he spoke, I told the District Manager next to me "He is the man, I want to be just like him." As soon as dinner was over I approached Mr. Hill. "I loved your presentation, Mr. Hill" I said as I extended out my hand. He shook my hand and said "Thank you young man, call me Ron. I really appreciate that you liked it. But let me ask you, what are you going to change tomorrow because of what you heard today?" He ended up joining Tandy Corp. and moving only a few miles from me. Ron also became my friend, my mentor, and my biggest fan. Over the next 5 years I started training and learning techniques that increased retention. I facilitated to audiences from 5 to 250 and training became my passion. I took any class I could find on speaking or training and my skills continued to develop.
1993 Tandy sold the McDuff chain and the new owners replaced all upper management. I had been pursued by a manager from David Weekley Homes for over a year to manage the sales of one of his communities. I decided the time was right and became a New Home Consultant and Upgrades Specialist. Here I assisted David in developing new follow up systems and training materials.
1995 I was recruited by Select Comfort "the Sleep Number Bed" to open a district in Pennsylvania, and do training. This gave me the opportunity to move back home and be closer with my family. During the next five years I opened and managed over 20 Select Comfort retail locations with 150+ employees. The real joy was I got to do all my own training and development. I also was a key speaker in the national meetings and trained hundreds of Sales Professionals.
2000 After many years of retail it was time for a change. I met a man in the newspaper business and joined Gateway Newspaper Group and was promoted to Associate Publisher. While there I developed a training manual and an official new hire training program. My team consisted of 3 Sales Managers, 1 Advertising Director, and approximately 25 Sales Reps. The training and enhanced sales techniques started working and we produced three consecutive years of sales gains in a declining industry between 2001 and 2003.
2002 I started working part time with Drake Mortgage Corp. as a loan officer in the evenings and weekends. Soon after I became a Notary Public and started closing loans for TA Title. While working with Drake Mortgage I met many Realtors and other Mortgage Brokers. It was obvious that there was a need for training in these industries. I started doing seminars focusing on the Real Estate and Mortgage industries which was fun and brought me more mortgage business.
2004 Gateway Newspaper Group was purchased by Tribune Publishing and they installed their own publishers/managers. I started my own training business while selling & processing mortgages for Drake Mortgage Corp. My focus with "Coach Kelley" was Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Advertising Sales. This was my dream come true because I was doing what I love (training) while having the mortgage business as a consistent stream of business and income.
2005 Verizon hired "Coach Kelley" to do training for their Sales Reps, Customer Service Reps, and Collectors.
2006 Verizon approached me and offered me a permanent position with the company. While with Verizon I did training, coaching, and wrote curriculum. Verizon spun off my division a year later and it became Idearc Media. Due to a potential conflict of interests I dissolved the Coach Kelley business and concentrated strictly on Verizon.
2008 Idearc Media split divisions and I my department was relocated to Philadelphia. While they requested that I relocate with my division, my family and life are rooted in Pittsburgh and I could not leave. I started my training business again where I did various jobs for several companies in the financial/mortgage and advertising arenas.
2009 PNC Financial Group hired Harry Kelley LLC to do new hire, collections, processing, and systems training for their loan center in Pittsburgh. I realized that this is a company I want to work for.
2010 I applied and was hired to work with the PNC Bank Ops Training Team...Right position...Right team...Right timing!
