Kelli Gift, Managing Partner

September 23, 2022

Kelli Gift has been with PaySmart for about 18 years. The Managing Partner, a CPA, was brought on to PaySmart to improve the firm’s operations. It was not long before Kelli fell in love with payroll, as supporting small businesses is her passion! She decided to commit to PaySmart long-term as a Managing Partner.

This commitment to PaySmart in her role as Managing Partner included the transition from manager to leader. This made a difference in her career, her life, as well as the lives of others.

This successful transition could not have been without Kelli’s commitment to learning more about herself. She spent time learning how she could lean into her strengths to develop the careers of those around her that matter the most to her! Through this process, Kelli focused on empowering the team at PaySmart by identifying their strengths so they could perform to their best abilities. Kelli has enjoyed her journey at PaySmart. One could say that she is the biggest cheerleader for the employees of PaySmart, both personally and professionally. She enjoys watching her team grow both as individuals and as a team. Kelli feels privileged to watch their confidence “bloom” as they find the courage to challenge themselves and be better every day. She states. “It’s been an amazing experience that I would not trade for anything.”

Kelli works hard but also enjoys an excellent work-life balance.

Everything lines up quite nicely for Kelli because she loves what she does! Part of her work-life balance includes making time to travel. She enjoys a trip for relaxation but also one that has a little more adventure. Her favorite place for relaxation is St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Kelli likes to visit regions known for good wine and food trips while exploring new destinations. She loves the beach and spending time in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Kelli loves the long warm days of summer and is sad when the days get shorter in the Fall season. She would love to see long days year round!

In the next few years, Kelli foresees herself spending more time in Hilton Head, South Carolina. She enjoys spending time with her five-year-old grandson and hopes to gain more time with him. Perhaps there may be more grandkids in the future she might be able to meet and spend time with! Kelli plans to continue her work in supporting individuals and small businesses through her project, Striving 2 Thrive. Striving 2 Thrive allows her to explore her passions for helping those interested reach their full potential by inspiring, encouraging, and empowering them to thrive fully!

We are looking forward to watching her continue her journey!