Financial Consultant, Smith Barney
by Kensie Hamilton
When not working at Smith Barney, volunteering or spending time with his family, you can find Kelly Castleberry running. He has run in 13 Charleston Distance Runs and seven marathons, including New York, Boston and the Marine Corps, along with numerous other runs.
Castleberry had been exposed to the financial world his entire life and wanted to be involved himself. “It was a reputable profession,” says Castleberry. “I could help people. Not to mention that it seemed pretty exciting with the (stock market) crash in the late 80s.”
He attended West Virginia University for three years before transferring to Marshall University where he had the opportunity to work as an intern at Shearson Lehman Hutton in Huntington. It was during this internship that, “I saw many people my age doing well.”
Castleberry was hired by Smith Barney as a financial consultant right out of college and he has been working there for the last 16 years. “I started working at 15,” explains Castleberry. “But, this is the only real job I have had. I have been with the firm every step of the way, even through all the name changes.”
“I always knew I wanted to be in Charleston,” he says. “Being hired by Smith Barney right out of college was such a blessing to me.”
During his time at Smith Barney, Castleberry with his constant determination and hard work has earned many honors. He was appointed as First Vice President, and is a member of the firm’s President’s Council. He also earned the title of Certified Investment Management Analyst through The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.
In 2006, Castleberry and three other financial advisors formed The Charleston Group, one of the 26 inaugural groups nationwide qualified to become members of Citigroup Institutional Consulting. “As a team, we consult on over a billion dollars in investments, for both high net worth individuals and institutions,” says Castleberry.
Castleberry was born and raised in West Virginia and could never imagine living anywhere else. “I think this is a great state, it is so close to everything. I have had every opportunity to move to other parts of the county but I would never consider leaving.”
Castleberry is truly passionate about doing all he can to help the state he loves.
He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Thomas Memorial Hospital Foundation, serving as its President for three years, and was Chairman for the campaign to build the new Emergency Center. “I want to do anything I can to help build a healthy community,” says Castleberry.
Castleberry has been actively involved with the Clay Center for many years and serves on the Board of Directors, where he sits on two committees—Development and the Nominating & Governance. “The Clay Center is something all West Virginians should be proud of. I enjoy this so much,” he says. “My dad was such a promoter of the arts.”
Going back to his love of running, Castleberry is also actively involved in the Charleston Distance Run as a committee member and past director.
Castleberry has to be at the top of his game to accomplish all his goals and works to keep the balance with all he is involved in. Living in South Charleston with his wife, Melissa, and sons, Austin and Hunter (Kelly IV lives in Morgantown), Castleberry attends The Bible Center Church and is a member of Dunbar Masonic Lodge 159, Scottish Rite of Charleston, York Rite of Charleston, Beni Kedem Shrine and the Royal Order of Jesters.
Photography Donna Edmondson
