"A company is only as good as its people."
Meet the dedicated and hardworking team behind KC's Automotive
Kelly Smith- Owner
Kelly Smith, born and raised in West Virginia, is the owner of KC’s Automotive Specialists, LLC of Anderson, SC, which provides reliable maintenance services, diagnostic services, and mechanical repairs on personal and commercial vehicles in the upstate of South Carolina. Kelly has over 20 years of experience in the automotive industry, which includes working on vehicles, assisting with vehicle repairs, customer service, administrative, sales and management, and a passion for helping the community.
Kelly is currently working on ensuring the community that there are honest and reliable automotive repair shops in the area, with the goal of helping community members not only – maintain and repair their vehicle investment, but also help customers understand how to properly take care of their vehicle(s) by providing up front, honest, and transparent communication throughout the process at KC’s Automotive Specialists, LLC.
Kelly is goal oriented and has several professional and personal goals to achieve this year. Professionally, she will be focusing on improving efficiency and productivity within the company. Additionally, Kelly is interested in getting more involved in the community and increasing networking. She is also excited to learn more about new technology within the industry by staying on top of training for herself and her team. Personally, Kelly will be working towards connecting with other industry professionals, developing a new hobby, and (in the future) – purchasing a Mercedes-Benz G-Class with cash!!
During 2024, Kelly found out that she had an aggressive form of breast cancer. After going through her treatment plan, she has been cleared of cancer by her doctors; here at KC’s Automotive we call that a “W”! This year, Kelly has been awarded the 2025 SC Women in Business Award!
In her spare time, Kelly can be found spending time with her beautiful daughter Kaitlyn, or reading, swimming, and paddleboarding. Kelly also has a passion for travel. She often visits family out of state, and you can also find her traveling to the beach or mountains.
Kaitlyn Smith - Service Advisor
No stranger to the automotive industry, Kaitlyn has been turning wrenches with her dad before she could even walk or talk. Kaitlyn continues in her parents’ footsteps and works exceptionally hard every day at KC’s to further the Smith family legacy.
As our newest Service Advisor, Kaitlyn is one of the first smiling faces you’ll see as you walk through the door. Kaitlyn has previously worked in a variety of roles, each of which brings unique value and experience to her new role. After watching and learning about the business, Kaitlyn takes pride in providing outstanding service and developing better relationships with our customers.
In her spare time you can find Kaitlyn traveling, spending time on the lake, practicing her makeup skills or taking on the world with her mama as an unstoppable duo.
Kellie Emmons- General Manager
This smiling face should look familiar as Kellie was promoted from Senior Service Advisor to General Manager. In this role, Kellie is responsible for overseeing that our shop runs smoothly and provides guidance and support to employees across all departments. With a background in management and sales, Kellie brings a variety of experience to the table that has helped shape KC’s into what it is today. Originally hired as a receptionist, Kellie continued to add responsibilities in bookkeeping, finances, and service writing before transitioning into her role as General Manager.
After earning her bachelor’s degree in organizational management from Ashford University, Kellie went on to pursue her MBA specializing in HR at UAGC.
With James as her mentor, Kellie quickly rose to the challenge and learned as much as she could about running the business. Driven by providing exceptional service to all customers, Kellie takes pride in always going above and beyond the call of duty. With her outstanding leadership qualities, Kellie is our go-to gal for anything and everything KC’s, and all employees and customers know that we can count on her.
In her spare time, you can find Kellie spending time with her family and friends. From lounging on the boat to going on hikes, together there is nothing they don’t enjoy doing outdoors.
Brian Matusiewicz- Master Technician
Originally from New Jersey, our master technician Brian moved down to Anderson with his family after connecting with James. After weeks of speaking over the phone, Brian was inspired to move down after meeting the team and seeing James’ vision and passion for the company.
With over 15 years of experience in the automotive industry, Brian brings extensive knowledge and experience to the table. While pursuing a degree in education, Brian discovered his passion for repairing cars and quickly changed career paths. Brian was initially self-taught but his passion for learning has brought him into the classrooms of some of the industry’s brightest minds- and he continues to constantly better himself with various trainings and specialty tools. Brian’s experience combined with his commitment to providing outstanding service to customers made him the perfect addition to the team.
In his spare time, you can find Brian spending time with his family outdoors doing everything from rock climbing and hikes, to kayaking and fishing. Brian is a family man through and through and spends as much time as possible with his wife and two boys.
Noah - Automotive Technician
Born and raised in South Carolina, the newest member of our team joined KC’s in April 2023. After getting his first car and observing that it needed work- Noah was determined to be the one to repair it. One piece at a time, Noah educated himself and learned how to get it safely back on the road. It was then that Noah discovered his passion for cars and it’s that passion that has motivated him to excel in the auto repair industry. There isn’t a problem that will keep Noah down- he’s determined to get back up, problem-solve and come up with the solution.
Since joining the KC’s Automotive team, Noah is ready to take on training and work towards getting ASE certifications. He learns something new every day and is thankful to have mentors in his corner teaching him everything they can. The team truly appreciates Noah’s positive attitude and willingness to learn and loves that Noah is excited to grow with us.
In his spare time, you can find Noah spending time with his wife and daughter, playing videos and listening to music.
