Roger Kesseler -
a tireless civil servant
CMU trustee receives Beta Gamma Sigma Award
| Central Michigan
University trustee Roger L. Kesseler, '58, has been named one of three
recipients of the international Beta Gamma Sigma Business Achievement
Award.
The award recognizes his outstanding achievements during a 37-year career with The Dow Chemical Company as well as his continuing service to higher education and the community. Founded in 1913, the national business fraternity of Beta Gamma Sigma now has 480,000 members in the United States and 160 other countries around the world. "During his distinguished career, Roger has shown great passion for his craft and enormous compassion for humanity through years of dedicated service to The Dow Chemical Company, Central Michigan University, and the citizens of Michigan," said College of Business Administration Dean John Schleede. Kesseler's commitment to CMU began during his student days, when he was active in various student activities and honor societies, and has only grown since then. He graduated cum laude in 1958 with a major in accounting and a triple minor in mathematics, economics, and geography. He also earned a minor in Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), was commissioned as a second lieutenant, and distinguished as a military graduate. Kesseler completed an eight-year obligation in the U.S. Army Reserves, with a combination of active duty and reserve time. In 1966, he completed his service at the rank of captain.
"I decided that Central Michigan University was going to be my school, and a lot of good things happened as a result of my education there," Kesseler said. "And now's the time to repay." Kesseler has given years of dedicated service and generous monetary donations to the university and CBA and has been instrumental in the development of many programs. He played a key role in helping CBA become an early member of the SAP University Alliance Program by both encouraging the integration of SAP software and providing the assistance of key Dow personnel in its implementation. SAP, or Systems, Applications, and Programs in Data Processing, is a German-based company that produces a suite of software applications for integrating business disciplines. In addition to serving a second term on CMU's Board of Trustees, Kesseler is chairman of the steering committee for the university's public broadcasting network, which is one of the largest university-owned operations of its kind in North America. He also leads the university's multimillion dollar capital campaign, a five-year initiative that kicks off later this year. "Roger's tireless efforts have resulted in unprecedented donations to CMU, and he exemplifies the finest of role models for students," Schleede said. In 1990, he was inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma, and in 1992, he was initiated into Sigma Isto Epsilon, an honorary management fraternity. He also was an inductee of Beta Alpha Psi, a national accounting fraternity. He was awarded an honorary doctorate of commercial science degree from CMU in 1989. Kesseler began working for The Dow Chemical Company one
year after graduating from CMU. By 1969, he was the chief
cost accountant of Dow's Michigan division. He later served in the
same post for the Texas division, which required relocating his
family to Freeport, Texas. He advanced through various positions
in Texas before returning to Midland, Mich., in 1979 as manager
of operations analysis and consolidation in the corporate controllers
department. He became controller two years later, and by 1984, he
had risen to the rank of vice president. He retired in 1997. Kesseler and Jim Fabiano, another CMU trustee with an extensive record of community and civic service, made a lasting contribution to the state of Michigan when they formed a Midland-Mount Pleasant alliance that led to the widening of 18 miles of M-20. "Every time I get out on that road and I look at it, I feel like I had an impact," he said. Kesseler was honored at a special awards ceremony at CMU this spring. |
