Meet Kelly Riddle | President and Founder of Kelmar Global Investigations

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kelly Riddle and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kelly, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My minor in college was business with a criminal justice major. I was in law enforcement and then was hired by a private investigation company with 26 offices throughout the world. They had financial trouble and I had to have a job so I created my company. I never envisioned myself as an entrepreneur or an author but I have been in business 37 years and have 14 published books! Life presents opportunities and you have to be willing to take a risk and move forward when their is a true opportunity.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have held many leadership positions in various industry associations as well as receiving numerous awards. Contributing back to the profession has created a great deal of opportunities and exposure for the business.

• Texas Association of Licensed Investigators (TALI) –Hudgins-Sallee Award 2013
• TALI –Texas Certified Investigator Award 2011
• TALI –Board of Directors Award 2008 & 2010
• TALI –President’s BOD Award 2012
• NALI –Editors-Publishers Award 2004
• CII –Council of International Investigators Designation 2009
• Intellenet–Board Accredited Investigator 2015
• NAIS –PI of the Year 1998
• PI Magazine –PI of the Year
• NAIS – “One of the Top 25 PI’s of the 20th Century”
• PI Magazine – “One of America’s Top PIs of 2022”
• NCISS – Wayne J. Wunder Memorial Award 2025 (exceptional contributions to NCISS by members)

• Texas Assoc. of Licensed Investigators, Past President 2010-2012; President Elect 2009-2010, Board of Directors 2007-2009
• National Council of Investigation and Security Services (NCISS), Board of Directors, Treasurer 2021 – 2026, Ethics Committee Chair 2021 – current
• Intellenet – International Intelligence Network, Board of Directors and Education Director 2022 – current
• National Assoc of Legal Investigators; Board of Directors; Region 4 Director 2021 – 2023
• ASSIST – Assoc of Security Services & Investigators of the State of Texas, Board of Directors & PI Liaison 2023 – Current
• Council of Association Leaders, Founder/President 2012 –current
• Association of Christian Investigators, Founder/President 1997 –current
• Florida Assoc. of Private Investigators, Advisory Board Member 2015 –current
• National Association for Missing and Exploited Children; Board of Directors; Secretary and Treasurer 2017 – current
• Working PI Magazine; regular contributor 2023 – current
• Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, Board of Directors 2011 –2014
• Can You Identify Me, Board of Directors 2011- 2020
• Council of International Investigators, Region 12 Director 2024 – current; Public Relations Committee 2012 – current
• American Society of Industrial Security, San Antonio Membership Chair 2013 –current
• Florida Association of Professional Investigators, Charter Member 2006
• U.S. Association of Professional Investigators, Charter Member 2005

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My family upbringing really provided the backbone for my growth. My grandfather had a large construction company, my parents had strong work ethics but worked as a nurse and as an officer in the military. I was also involved in basketball in high school and college. An early lesson I learned was about being consistent. I started the first game when I was a sophomore on the varsity team but then sat the bench the next few games. When I asked my coach why, he said that I needed to be consistent. Sometimes I played like Michael Jordan and sometimes I was horrible. I took that lesson and by my senior year I was called, “Mr. Consistent”. I quickly found that everyone needs their employer, employees, spouse, friends etc to be consistent. That is why franchisees like McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, etc do so well.

Website: https://www.kelmarglobal.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyriddle/