After almost 30 years of telling stories for brands, Shawn Kelley realized it was time to start telling stories from his heart. Inspired by his father’s narratives from Vietnam, he began the journey into filmmaking by making his first feature documentary after age 50. When he’s not getting help from filmmaking friends on his documentary, Shawn’s day job is Executive Creative Director for a branding and advertising agency, where he leads teams of writers, designers, art directors and photographers in the company's Charlotte, NC and Portland, OR offices. Shawn started his career as a graphic designer and has worked in the agency world as an art director and creative director. Shawn has also helped the founders of Autism After 18, a non-profit that helps young adults with autism lead independent lives, start their organization.

Shawn's first film has recently been accepted into five film festivals, earning two juried Best Documentary Awards and one Audience Choice Best Documentary Award. His agency work has earned awards and accolades that include the Telly Awards, American Advertising Federation (AAF) National Addy Awards, Best of Show AAF Regional Awards (VA, NC, SC), Best of Show AAF Charlotte Awards, numerous regional and local Addy Awards, Print Regional Design Annual, Creativity Annual, Logo Lounge Annuals, and AdAge magazine’s Creative Spotlight.

Shawn earned a Bachelor of Creative Arts in Visual Art from University of North Carolina Charlotte and a Master of Business Administration from the University of South Carolina. He is also an alumnus of the Innovation Institute at the McColl Center for Visual Arts in Charlotte, NC and has completed the 4A’s Executive Leadership Program.

While proud of his creative accomplishments, Shawn is most proud of his three children – daughter Jessie, who has just become a medical doctor; son Dillon, who is able to manage a craft cocktail bar in Chicago while playing in three bands; and youngest son, Liam, a 14-year devoted soccer goalie and second-degree black belt that loves to read. Married to Aine Walsh Kelley, an Irish dancing school teacher/owner, Shawn lives in Charlotte, NC with his wife and youngest son.