When Kelly was three years old, she met her first clown while visiting a Philadelphia hospital where her special needs sister was being treated. (They lived in New Jersey at the time). She was so impressed with this interaction that she decided she wanted to a clown when she grew up. After attending college in Colorado, she moved to California and created Kelly the Clown over thirty years ago.  Becoming a clown not only fulfilled a life-long dream but also gave her the opportunity to be at home with her children while they were young, and in later years, to be a foster parent. Kelly and her husband Zach have fostered thirty-two children, many of them with special needs. 

​

In 1996, she had the opportunity to clown for the Jelly Belly Factory, which opened many doors to building her clown career. She is considered the official "Jelly Belly Clown" and is a fixture at all of their holiday and special events. Kelly loves entertaining the special needs community, as well as the community at Travis Air Force Base near her hometown.

She does many preschool shows, company picnics, community events, and birthday parties, and has been on Good Day Sacramento many times, performing and promoting the art of clowning. She loves mentoring new clowns and writing skits to perform with other clowns. Kelly has served on the board of directors of the Family and Variety Entertainers Convention (formerly Western Region Clown Association) and has won awards in makeup, skits and paradeability as well as teaching many classes at convention. 

​

​