MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Isaiah Kelley has spent most of his life in Manatee County, and for the past 42 years, he’s dedicated that life to teaching others.
“People think it’s unusual to find a native Floridian,” Kelley says with a smile. “But I was born and raised right here.”
For Kelley, joining Florida Power & Light Company started with a simple act of honesty. At 20 years old, while working as an orderly at the same hospital where he was born, he found a $100 bill in the admitting area.
“I thought about all the people visiting the hospital to make arrangements for paying their bills, and I instantly took it to the front desk,” Kelley recalls. “Sure enough, someone came back to claim it.”
That moment landed him in the hospital newsletter—and caught the attention of a colleague. She shared the story with her son, who was an FPL employee looking to hire meter readers. The rest, as they say, is history.
Kelley began his career at the company as a meter reader and steadily grew his responsibilities through roles in customer service, residential and energy solutions. Today, he serves as an area leader on the Home and Business Energy Specialists team, overseeing a region that spans from Manatee County to Naples—more than 3,300 square miles and over a million customers.
“The team goes into customers’ homes and businesses to educate them about energy conservation,” Kelley says. “It’s about helping people understand how they use energy and what they can do to save.”
His passion for teaching, though, extends beyond FPL. For the past five years, Kelley has also served in a part-time role in the Language and Literature department at State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota, teaching developmental English courses and supporting students on their path to academic success.
“My educational background is in information systems, but I really enjoy this topic,” he says. “Most of my students are multilingual.”
His students come from all over the world—Russia, Turkey, Sweden and the Philippines, just to name a few—and Kelley cherishes the opportunity to help them grow.
“I think my true calling is to be a teacher,” he says. “We are all learning and growing.”
Kelley’s roles at FPL and at the school complement each other in powerful ways. Whether he’s working closely with an FPL customer or a student, his goal is the same: empower others through knowledge.
When he thinks back on his time as a residential field representative, he relishes the opportunities he’s had to teach others about the hidden causes of energy waste.
“I was visiting a home that was undergoing renovations, and I noticed the air conditioner was running, but the house wasn’t at a comfortable temperature,” Kelley says. “During my inspection, I found the AC coil was covered in sawdust, causing it to run almost 24/7. Once it was cleaned, we saw a tremendous drop in usage.”
In another case, Kelley noticed warm air coming from the vents of a customer’s home and the smell of gasoline inside the house.
“I found a hole in an AC return duct. It was pulling hot air from the garage into the house,” he says. “After fixing the duct, her energy usage went back to normal.”
Kelley also enjoys busting common myths about energy use.
“People are sometimes surprised by how little energy their lights use,” he says. “Your parents likely said, ‘turn off the lights when you leave a room,’ which is a good practice. But today, it’s usually the air conditioner, pool equipment or hot water heater that are using the most energy.”
After more than four decades with FPL, Kelley remains energized by the work and the people.
“I really like being challenged, and I love helping people,” he says. “Those are the biggest drivers in my life. I love what I do.”
He’s also inspired by the next generation and by learning from others.
“Young people are so tech savvy, and I appreciate all they can teach me,” Kelley says. “Learning the latest advancements helps keep me on my toes.”
Whether in the classroom or on the job, Isaiah Kelley is making a difference—one lesson at a time.