Before founding Free Spirit Skies, Kelli spent years in corporate operations as a VP — experience that now shapes how she runs every flight: on schedule, on budget, and with the kind of precision that comes from managing high-stakes logistics for a living. That operational discipline, paired with a genuine flair for marketing and PR, is what separates Free Spirit Skies from a standard charter company. Clients aren't just booking a balloon — they're booking someone who understands how to represent a brand.

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Kelli's passion for ballooning took flight in 2005, crewing at The Great Texas Balloon Race in Longview, TX. She purchased her first balloon in 2010 and earned her private pilot certificate in 2012, followed by her commercial certificate in 2014 — flying competitively during those years under the name Kelli Cook.

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A dedicated competitor, Kelli has qualified for multiple U.S. National Hot Air Balloon Championships and represented the U.S. at the inaugural Women's World Hot Air Balloon Championship in Leszno, Poland. Competitive flying sharpened her precision, her strategy, and her deep understanding of aerostatics — skills she brings to every commercial flight, from a single-guest sunrise ride to a multi-day corporate activation.

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Free Spirit Skies now partners with brands like RE/MAX for private events and glows, alongside festival aerial advertising, corporate programs, and intimate private flights across Colorado. Every project — whether a promotional campaign or a proposal at sunrise — gets the same attention to detail.

 

As a speaker, Kelli has shared her insights with ballooning communities nationwide, including the Albuquerque Aerostat Ascension Association, the Colorado Balloon Club, the Cheyenne Balloon Club, and the Balloon Federation of America's National Convention.