Meet The Team: Kelley Brenner

In The Studio | Continuing our team introductions, today we'd like to share our interview with the other half of the business partnership that started it all here at Ron Brenner Architects — Kelley Brenner! Scroll down for the official interview.

Name?

Kelley Brenner

Role at RBA?

Principal

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in a navy blue, Cape Cod-styled home in Richfield, Minnesota. Richfield was where I forged many strong relationships, including meeting and marrying my husband, Ronny, a decade later. ❤️ What was your first job?

My girlfriend and I started our first job together at Kirby Vacuums. We had no babysitting money saved, and we needed money to attend the 1975 Minnesota State Fair. Our job was to cold call people from the telephone phone book to set up appointments for the sales staff. My girlfriend had the gift for Gab and made many legitimate appointments! I was painfully shy on the phone, still am, and made zero appointments! However, I recorded one non-legitimate appointment and promptly quit that job after six hours. Not my brightest moment, but I think the supervisor was happy to see me leave! The next day my mom picked up my $20 from KV because I was afraid to collect it myself, and my friend and I went off to the State Fair! We had a fabulous time!

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

Raising two incredible human beings! Christopher and Caitlin, I love and adore you! You make my heart happy & proud! ❤️❤️

What is your favorite place in the world?

Easy - Jackson, Wyoming, and the entire valley! Ron took me west for the first time to experience the majesty of the Rocky Mountains in 1978. When we rounded Oxbow Bend in Grand Teton National Park, I gasped! I had an immediate feeling of peace, love, and homecoming. Later I discovered my grandma, Lila, had lived in Kelly, Wyoming as a child, and she loved this sacred valley, too. What is at the top of your bucket list?

To spend an entire month in Scotland exploring the Highlands of my ancestors, Clan Macleod of Skye, followed by another month in Italy with Ron, eating, drinking wine, and indulging in all the historic sites, countryside, and shopping my heart out!

What is your guilty pleasure?

Seriously right now, the new Choco Strawberry Blizzard at Dairy Queen. Nom! Do you have a hidden talent?

I loved portrait drawing as a kid, was quite good at it, and always hoped to become an artist. Maybe someday…

If you had to give your vehicle a name, what would it be?

JOURNEY. This is how I view my life. Mountains & Valleys, Twists & Turns, Beginnings & Endings, Failures & Successes, Sadness & Happiness. JOURNEY. What would the title of your autobiography be?

Beautiful Picasso, A True Story What single thing could you not live without?

God Which celebrity would you most like to have dinner with?

I'm not a big fan of celebrities, but I would give anything to sit down and talk with my Grandma Lila again. I hope she would have been proud of the woman I became. What's one family tradition you have passed down to your kids or would like to?

I hope the importance of family, real heart connections, gratitude, and service to others. What is the best concert you have ever been to?

Over the decades, I have attended hundreds of great shows with Ron, so this question is tricky. I'm a 70's kid who loves all classic rock, so probably Fleetwood Mac and The Eagles—still waiting for Led Zepplin to reunite! I would spend big money to see them live!

What has been the best day of your life so far?

There isn't one best day for me, but any day that includes my love, family, friends, happiness, joy, peace, contentment, nature & celebration!