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NEW HARTFORD, N.Y. (WKTV) - Dean Kelly, President of Jay-K Lumber in New Hartford, is trading in his work at home for work in Vancouver.
Kelly, who has been curling for 37 years, will now take his expertise to the Olympics, as an official employee and timer for the curling events in Vancouver.
Kelly says he works for Omega Timing, the official timing company of the Olympics. His job in Vancouver will be to supervise the Curling timers, and input the official results.
In 2002 Kelly volunteered at the Salt Lake City Olympics, and in Torino in 2006.
This time, however, he will be going as an employee a rare occasion not just for Central New Yorkers, but for an American.
"I'm really actually honored, I think I am one of the only Americans who are actually working for Omega at the Olympics," said Kelly. "I think there are about 400 employees of Omega working for all the different sports, and as far as I know I am only one of only two Americans. So it's an honor for me to be from Utica New York out there at the Olympic Games."
Kelly says his schedule will be tight while in Vancouver, working all 11 curling events. He says his favorite part of trip is watching the individual athletes succeed after so much training.
There is just one slight problem with his trip, said Kelly. As of Tuesday afternoon, he could not find a flight to Vancouver because of of snow in the Midwest. Kelly says the worst case scenario will have him leaving Friday but that would mean he misses the opening ceremonies.
