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Meet Jonathan Kelly — KC NARI’s 2021 Chapter President

Meet Jonathan Kelly — KC NARI’s 2021 Chapter President

Jonathan W. Kelly, Owner of Fireplace & Bar-B-Q Center, Inc. has been elected president of the Kansas City National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) chapter for 2021.

 

Kelly has more than 20 years in the hearth and barbeque retail industry. In 1997 he began his career in sales with the Fireplace & Bar-B-Q Center. Kelly rose through the ranks at the company becoming vice president in 2007 and then owner in 2016.

 

Through the company membership of the Fireplace & Bar-B-Q Center, Kelly has been active with Kansas City NARI for many years and has served on the board of directors since 2014. During that time, Kelly has been on the Marketing/PR and Workforce Development Committees. Kelly will serve as the KC NARI Chair in 2022.

 

As president, Kelly is passionate about the value of KC NARI membership and especially its benefits for small businesses.

 

“The benefits of membership in KC NARI are unparalleled. The industry-leading news, research and education that NARI provides is invaluable to anyone in the remodeling industry,” said Kelly. “Additionally, networking with other NARI companies and suppliers is a great resource for small businesses.”


Get to Know Jonathan Kelly — 8 Fun Facts

KC NARI: What is the most valuable aspect of your membership with Kansas City NARI? 

KELLY: Networking. Sometimes its solving a trade related problem, business related, or a human resource issue.

 

KC NARI: What is your vision (big or small) as President of Kansas City NARI? 

KELLY: Covid put a strain on our Networking ability. I hope that 2021 will be the year our chapter develops more robust digital programs for networking and education. When we get back to normal, this should allows us to be more flexible and inclusive with these programs. I’ve taken ZOOM meetings while on vacation, something I could not have done before.

 

KC NARI: What do you like most about working at/owning Fireplace & Bar-B-Q Center? 

KELLY: We take great pride in seeking out the better fireplace and barbecue products in our industry and then showcasing them on our showroom floor. Not only do we show the better products, our team is very knowledgeable in why they are the better products.

 

KC NARI: What’s your go-to BBQ recipe? 

KELLY: A smoked brisket or pork butt is really hard to beat. There are so many ways to season them with premade sauce/rubs or you can get creative with your own. These lesser quality cuts of meat really do something magical when cooked low and slow!

 

KC NARI: Who would you want to be stranded with on a deserted island?

KELLY: Carrie Kelly, my wife and here’s why. She is the most selfless person I have ever met and completely changed my outlook when I met her 23 years ago.

 

KC NARI: What is your favorite family vacation? 

KELLY: Going to the beach is the best for the kiddos. Going to Napa Valley is the best with my wife, Carrie.

 

KC NARI: What is your favorite game or sport to watch and play?

KELLY: Football is and was my most favorite sport to watch and play when I was younger. Baseball is what traveled the furthest with and is probably the one I most knowledgeable about.

 

KC NARI: List two pet peeves. 

KELLY: #1) Conversations that include the word “Irregardless”….it’s just regardless. #2)People raking their teeth on a fork while eating.

 


 

Kansas City NARI is a local chapter of NARI, a national professional association whose members voluntarily subscribe to a strict code of ethics. Consumers may wish to search www.remodelingkc.com to find a qualified remodeler who is a member of NARI.

 

The remodeling market, a $275 billion industry in the U.S., is projected to continue to grow as the U.S. housing stock ages.  It is estimated that more than a million homes per year undergo major renovation or remodeling.

 

See Jonathan Kelly’s “People on the Move” feature in the Kansas City Business Journal.