Kelley & Associates

What Kelley & Associates does

Kelley & Associates Advertising is a privately held, full-service advertising agency founded in 1979 and headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. The firm operates a single in-house creative production model covering website development, social media marketing, media planning and placement, public relations, graphic design, brand development, copywriting, and video production. It is led by President & CEO Christi Kelley and Vice President & Senior Art Director Kim Strickland, with the ownership remaining insider/founder-controlled (no external investors identified) and certifications including DBE, WBE, and LOSB that create procurement preference with government and institutional buyers.

The agency's revenue model is professional-services based, with custom-quoted engagements and no publicly disclosed pricing. Its go-to-market is direct sales and referral, anchored in the Memphis/Mid-South region where it has cultivated deep sector relationships across nonprofits, local government and law enforcement, credit unions and financial institutions, healthcare and public health, and arts and culture. Marquee clients include Porter-Leath, Shelby County Sheriff's Office, City of Bartlett, State National, Memphis Symphony Orchestra, and the Shelby County Health Department, with verifiable campaign outcomes such as a Head Start recruitment effort credited with 1,670 enrolled children and 230+ staffed positions.

The technology stack is traditional agency tooling plus Squarespace-hosted web presence; no proprietary platforms, data assets, software products, or API surfaces are disclosed. The firm has built its commercial position almost entirely through brand reputation, awards recognition (MarCom, Communicator, Aster, SIAA, Summit Creative, Dolphin Visionary Entrepreneur), and an unusually long operating history, while remaining small in headcount (1–10 employees) and concentrated geographically. Strategic emphasis in 2025–2026 has shifted toward external visibility (executive awards, AIVA juror selection) and emerging thought leadership on AI-era marketing visibility.

Name

Kelley & Associates

Legal name

Kelley & Associates Advertising

Website

https://kelleyadv.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kelley & Associates Advertising is a privately held, full-service Memphis-based ad agency founded in 1979, serving nonprofits, government, credit unions, healthcare, and arts organizations across the Mid-South with in-house creative, media, PR, and digital production.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Advertising Services

NAICS

Advertising Agencies (541810), Advertising Agencies (54181), Media Buying Agencies (54183)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Advertising (Brand + Performance + Media) (BPAFAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Full-Service Media Planning & Buying (MPAAABAA), Digital Marketing Strategy & Channel Mix Advisory (MPAAAFAF)

Keywords

• Advertising agency services
• Media planning placement
• Brand development strategy
• Video production services
• Public relations services

Headquarters

HQ city

Cordova

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Advertising and Marketing Services: Full-service agency revenue from providing integrated marketing solutions including creative development, media planning and placement, public relations, video production, digital marketing, and brand strategy for clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kelley & Associates Advertising is a full-service boutique advertising agency delivering integrated marketing communications for organizations across nonprofits, government, financial services, healthcare, and SMBs. Core offerings include website development, social media marketing, media planning and placement, public relations, graphic design, brand development, copywriting, and video production, all managed in-house from the agency's Memphis headquarters. Services are custom-scoped, quote-based engagements rather than packaged products or self-serve software.

Product overview

Kelley & Associates Advertising is a full-service Memphis-based advertising agency offering a comprehensive suite of marketing and creative services. Rather than a software product platform, the company provides integrated marketing solutions including website development, social media marketing, media placement, public relations, graphic design, brand development, copywriting, and video production. The agency serves clients across diverse industries including nonprofits, government, credit unions, healthcare, and local businesses, functioning as a traditional full-service advertising agency rather than a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Website Development Custom website design and development services for clients, including responsive design, user experience optimization, and content management system implementation.
• Social Media Marketing Social media strategy, content creation, graphics, posting, scheduling, reporting, and paid social media advertising across platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
• Media Placement Media planning, negotiation, and placement across traditional TV, radio, out-of-home, OTT, display advertising, streaming video, and YouTube to maximize reach and ROI.
• Public Relations News release development, media outreach, event publicity, earned media coverage, public relations strategy, and community relationship building.
• Graphic Design Visual design services including logos, brand identity systems, print collateral, brochures, annual reports, direct mail, billboards, and digital advertising creative.
• Brand Development Brand strategy, positioning, visual identity creation, brand guidelines, tagline development, and brand refresh services for organizations.
• Copywriting Professional copywriting for websites, advertising campaigns, marketing materials, direct mail, email communications, and content marketing.
• Video Production Video ad production, animation, broadcast creative, social video content, explainer videos, PSA production, and event video documentation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3.2 million impressions and 32,000+ engagements for Porter-Leath Head Start recruitment campaign, helping enroll 1,670 children and fill 230+ staff positions
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lewis Communications: Birmingham, Alabama-based full-service advertising agency serving regional and national brands across consumer, healthcare, and B2B — comparable boutique full-service positioning in the Southeast.
• The Buntin Group: Nashville-headquartered full-service advertising agency offering integrated brand, creative, media, and digital services — comparable full-service positioning in the Tennessee market.
• GS&F: Nashville-based integrated marketing and advertising agency serving consumer, B2B, and nonprofit clients — comparable full-service capabilities and Tennessee regional presence.
• Jackson Spalding: Atlanta-based integrated marketing, communications, and advertising agency with comparable mid-size full-service model targeting consumer, nonprofit, and corporate clients in the Southeast.
• Archer Malmo: Memphis-based full-service advertising agency offering brand strategy, creative, media, digital, and PR services to regional and national clients — directly comparable geography, service mix, and target segments.
• The Tombras Group: Knoxville, Tennessee-based independent advertising agency offering full-service creative, media, digital, and PR — comparable full-service model operating in the same state/region.
• Sullivan Branding: Memphis/Nashville-based full-service branding and advertising agency serving nonprofits, government, and commercial clients — comparable boutique full-service model and Mid-South footprint.
• Red Deluxe Brand Development: Memphis-based branding and advertising agency serving consumer, healthcare, and nonprofit clients — directly comparable Memphis geography and brand-focused service mix.
• Big Communications: Birmingham, Alabama-based advertising and marketing agency offering integrated brand, creative, and digital services — comparable boutique-to-mid-size full-service model in the Southeast.

Regional players

• Mouthsouth: Memphis-area creative agency providing branding, advertising, and digital services to regional clients — comparable Memphis geography with a smaller, more creative-focused footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kelleyadv

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kelley & Associates