Dennis Kessler is the President and founder of Midwest Family Business Advisors, midwestfamilybusinessadvisors.com, a firm, founded in 1998, which specializes in helping families to overcome the challenges inherent in mixing business with family. He advises clients on, succession planning, conflict resolution, family and business governance structures, strategic planning, employee recruitment and retention strategies, and work/life balance. Dennis is the former Co-President of Fel Pro Inc., which was in his family for 80 years.

Fel-Pro Inc.
Fortune Magazine ranked Fel-Pro fourth in their list of best companies to work for in America, and the company holds a top ten spot in the book, “The 100 Best Companies to Work for in America.” Fel Pro was chosen as one of the ten best employers for women in the country by “Working Mother” magazine for twelve straight years, was named “Employer of the Year” in Illinois. The Business Enterprise Trust, founded by Norman Lear, awarded Fel-Pro special recognition for its programs enhancing the quality of life for employees.

Dennis Kessler
Dennis is a founding member and Board member of the Private Directors Association, Dennis serves on the Board of Directors of several non-profit organizations, including the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation and the Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation. He is currently a member of the advisory board of DePaul University’s College of Commerce and Washington University in St. Louis’s Engineering School Council. Previously, he served as a member of the Board of Directors of Fel-Pro, MFRI, Loyola Family Business Center, Swank Motion Pictures, QuesTek Innovations, O’Neil Industries, and Ideal Industries, Inc., and as Chairman of the Workforce Development Committee of Lake County Partners, IL. He also held positions on the Board of Directors of the Northern Illinois Business Association and was Chairman of Northwestern University’s School of Engineering and Applied Science Advisory Council and others.

Dennis earned an Industrial Engineering and a master’s degree in engineering administration from Washington University in St. Louis. He worked for DuPont, Union Electric, and Orchard Paper, prior to joining Fel Pro. At Fel Pro he held several managerial positions, including Vice President of Engineering, VP of Operations, and VP of Original Equipment Sales; he also served as President of the Ventures Group of companies, including Fel-Pro Realty Inc. and Fel-Pro Chemical Products LLP.

Dennis is a sought-after guest lecturer for numerous organizations, including NACD, Loyola Family Business Center, Family Firm Institute, Northwestern University—Kellogg Graduate School, University of Chicago, University of Pennsylvania—Wharton School of Management, and the Southeastern Family Office Forum. He has previously contributed on a volunteer basis as President of the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation and the North Suburban Housing Center, and as Vice President of Congregation Solel. He is a recipient of the Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award from the Washington University of St. Louis Engineering School.

Dennis and his wife, Barbara, live in Highland Park, Illinois, and have 3 grown children.