Eileen McChesney Kelly

Eileen grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, and studied economics as an undergraduate at Indiana University (go Hoosiers!). She spent two years at Wharton Econometric Forecasting Associates before attending Stanford Law School, where she met her husband, Gerard. She learned the importance of pro bono service starting with a work-study job at a community legal clinic during law school. Following graduation, she and Gerard thought they would give big-firm legal practice in Chicago a try, and ended up staying in the area for 40 years.

Eileen spent 25 of those years practicing law full and part-time in various capacities, primarily in corporate transaction and compliance positions. Over the course of her professional career, she had the opportunity to continue pro bono legal work in areas including foreclosure mediation and guardianship of minors. She served a three-year term on the IRS Taxpayer Advocacy Panel, a federal advisory committee that serves as a liaison between the IRS and individual and small-business taxpayers. She also held a multitude of volunteer board positions within the school systems where she and Gerard raised their three children. 

Eileen retired in 2021, and Gerard is semi-retired, so they now spend summers and winters at the house they built in Tetonia in 2012. Like so many, they take advantage of the beautiful outdoors around them by hiking, biking, skiing, and snowshoeing. As much as they like it in Teton Valley, they also enjoy travel, both domestic and international, especially expeditions to Boise to visit their grandchildren. Eileen is honored to serve on the board of the Community Foundation of Teton Valley, an organization that supports so many in the valley while exercising prudent stewardship of the resources entrusted to it.