Undoubtedly the greatest testimony to Alan's early leadership abilities was his being selected for appointment to the West Point military Academy upon graduation from high school. That selection was much more than an honor -- it represented outstanding success in one of this country's most competitive evaluations of excellence -- it gave evidence of Alan's great personal character as well as top academic achievement. At that time, though, Alan heard other callings and declined the West Point selection. Instead, he attended Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida, eventually traveling as a representative of the University, encouraging high school students to continually expand their knowledge, to perceive and thereby to achieve their highest potential. He continued to exercise this exceptional talent – of expanding the abilities of others to reach their potential in life – by serving various communities in Indiana and Florida as a senior pastor of several congregations. This calling to public service is what initially brought Alan to St Augustine, where he worked from 1979 to 1982 and gained a love for this community, which eventually brought him back in 1994. During his time away from NE Florida in those intervening years, Alan acquired substantial business skills and experience while also continuing his motivational accomplishments.

Beginning in 1982, he became a sought-after communicator, traveling throughout the southeast, Midwest, and northeastern United States, giving concerts and seminars. In 1985 he built the first infant-daycare facility in Ft. Wayne, Indiana and continued refining his business skills of negotiating, corporate management, effective planning, and problem solving while building and directing a television station as president and part-owner. In this, he also hosted two daily television shows and a daily radio show dealing with how to succeed in life. He taught people how to reinvent themselves for success no matter their situation. In 1987 Alan built a film/video company that was to become Sony Broadcast of America's premier facility -- and the first fully digital facility in the Midwest.

This developing career path took Alan to southern Florida, where he owned a consulting company specializing in residential and commercial renovations.

Then in 1994, after returning to St. Augustine, he built an ISP (internet service provider) and a software company and also worked in upper management for a wireless-communications company.

Alan's passion for NE Florida brought him alongside a team of other leaders to host the Pro-Family Rally at the World Golf Convention Center, with the goal of bringing the Marriage Amendment to fruition in Florida. He worked on an advisory council for then-president George Bush, which led to his appointment to the Business Commission headed by then-U.S. House Majority Whip Tom DeLay of Texas. An article in a 2004 edition of the St. Augustine Record quoted Representative DeLay as saying that Mr. Kelso was selected based on his outstanding contributions to the Advisory Council. In addition, Alan was one of several who worked with leader Ken Asplund and helped launch CPR (Christian Professional Resources) in St. Johns County, a project to develop a resource for professionals to operate strong, ethical businesses.

Alan is a visionary who is confident that dreams are the seeds of reality. He believes in his ability to see the reality that can be and to grow it and nurture it. He has the ability to listen to what people say they desire, to offer an ear to understand their needs, to have the compassion to respect their views -- and moreover, he has the resourcefulness to solve problems and meet needs. Complementing these substantial abilities, Alan also has the inner strength and confidence to recognize his role as a servant empowered by those he serves: he is willing to be answerable for his leadership.

Alan is married to Terina and together they have three wonderful children and three grandchildren and are expecting their fourth grandchild early 2012.