Kelli was a BKB student in November 2002. She completed ASA courses through Bareboat and took ASA Advanced Coastal Cruising in the Carribean. Kelli skippered one of the flotilla boats on the Greece trip in 2004. Kelli and husband Mike own a Beneteau 40CC and lease the Catalina 270 WindFall. Kelli has skippered boats in Greece and the Virgin Islands. Kelli's ASA instructor qualifications including Bare Boat Charter and Coastal Navigation.

Kelli is ASA-certified to instruct Basic Keelboat, Basic Coastal Cruising, and Coastal Navigation.

Kelli grew up waterskiing on Folsom Lake and continues "powered" watersports on Trinity Lake in Northern California. Kelli was a horseback riding instructor for many years and taught technical writing for 3 years. Kelli earned her private pilots license at 19 years old. Prior to sailing instruction, Kelli was a technical writing manger for various software companies and now does freelance technical and professional writing and website design work.