Kelly was raised in a military family, spending much of her time in the southern part of the country. She settled in northern Wisconsin after earning a degree in Peace, Conflict, and Global Studies from Northern College in Ashland, WI. She worked as the Executive Director for the nonprofit organization, The Alliance for Sustainability, where she focused on sustainable community and economic development projects. As a small business owner, Kelly spent three years building a strong local food system through farm-to-table events, community supported agriculture, wholesale marketing and distribution, and organizational efficiencies. Kelly served on the Ashland City Council from 2011 to 2014. She is a graduate of Leadership Wisconsin, a member of the Young Elected Officials Network, and the first graduate of Emerge Wisconsin to seek federal office.