College of Business Administration
Advisory Council Member

Mr. W. Kelly Jones
Managing Partner
Grant Thornton LLP

Kelly Jones is a graduate of Georgia Southern University and has more than 35 years of public accounting experience, including 23 years in Columbia, South Carolina. Prior to joining Grant Thornton LLP, Kelly was a partner with a Big 5 public accounting firm for over 20 years. Kelly’s experience includes the construction, manufacturing (including clients with government contracts), distribution, and trucking industries.

In addition, Kelly has served as an engagement partner on a number of capital market engagements, including leveraged buy-outs, IPOs and due diligence reviews for actual and proposed acquisitions. He has provided merger negotiation assistance and has developed profit improvement plans and company wide performance measures for several of his clients.

Currently he is also serving as managing partner of the firm’s office in Columbia, South Carolina.

Education
BBA, Georgia Southern University
Graduate work, Georgia State University

Certifications
Kelly is a Certified Public Accountant licensed to practice in South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee.

Affiliations
Kelly is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the South Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants. He has been active in the community, serving as an officer in a number of organizations including the United Way of the Midlands, The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, Junior Achievement, Indian Waters Boy Scouts, The Family Service Center, Cultural Council of Richland, Lexington County and the Central Carolina Economic Development Alliance, and the Education Council of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce.