About Jim Kelley

Jim’s Story

Jim Kelley was born and raised in a neighboring blue collar suburb of Chicago. He began working at age 7 with a paper route for three years where he developed rudimentary skills in time management, customer service, conflict resolution and collection methods. After two profitable years, he closed the second business due to local laws.

He was the only child in the family who attended college, starting at Triton College and graduating from Elgin Community College with an associate’s degree. He then earned a BS in Accountancy from Northern Illinois University in 1971 and earned his CPA.

After college, Jim practiced in public accounting at Deloitte and EY on the assurance and EDP audit teams and moved seven years later into industry management.

While working in public accounting, Jim started a rock-concert-promotion company which he operated successfully for six years. Shortly after receiving his CPA, he built a tax and consulting practice in the Chicagoland area

In 1999, Jim began working with a coach to help him further his success in business. He began coaching others in 2002. In 2005, after having been coached professionally and practicing coaching himself, he became a certified business and life coach. Then, in 2008, he earned his MBA from NIU. Some of the companies for which he worked include:

1. The Henry Pratt Company, a NYSE listed company until purchased and then became a privately held company
2. The Hedman Company a privately-held small international manufacturing and sales company (Hedman)
   1. Started as VP of Finance and progressed through several promotions until 1996
   2. Promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in 1996
   3. Managed the entire Company’s daily operations
   4. Managed international sales and international purchasing relationships until May 2010
   5. Structured the sale of Hedman to a competitor and worked at the merged company until May 2010.

Jim started coaching full-time in 2010, and earned the a Professional Certified Coach designation through the International Coach Federation (ICF) in 2015.

Current Public Service

He currently serves as an Independent Trustee and Audit Committee Chair of the River North Funds since 2006 ($2B AUM).

Former Positions:

• NIU Executive Leadership Forum Scholarship Committee member
• Vice President of Programs, Scholarship Committee and Board member of the NIU College of Business Executive Club
• Vice President and Director Illinois CPA Society, also served and chaired many of its committees since 1978.
• Past director and Past Chair of the Greater O’Hare Association of Commerce and Industry, also chaired and served on several of its committees
• Founding director of the Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce
• Black Belt in Hapkido Karate
• Religious education mentor, Cub Scout Master for four years and assistant for one additional year