Laurence Kessler '65 Elected to Adelphi University Board of Trustees
Garden City, NY
September 25, 2009
Adelphi University has elected Laurence Kessler '65 to its Board of Trustees. Mr. Kessler, a former Wall Street stock broker, is the founder and CEO of Kessler Restaurants, franchisee of Burger King and the largest franchisee of Friendly's. He will serve on the Advancement and Finance and Administration committees.
"I am deeply honored to join the strong leadership of the board and return to my
alma mater to serve in this capacity," said Mr. Kessler. "I care deeply about the University and share the vision of President Scott and other Trustees."
"Laurence Kessler brings a wealth of business expertise and experience to the board," said Adelphi University Board of Trustees Chairman Thomas F. Motamed '71. "Adelphi will greatly benefit from his commitment and leadership."
Mr. Kessler and his brother Dennis own and oversee 21 Burger Kings and 46 Friendly's throughout upstate New York. The son of the owner of the iconic Wolf's Delicatessen in New York, Mr. Kessler was no stranger to the food business, which enabled him to see the potential of franchise restaurants more than 30 years ago. He inquired about Burger King franchise opportunities, took a position available in the upstate New York branch, resigned his job on Wall Street, and moved his family to Rochester, NY. As owner and entrepreneur of the famous chain, Mr. Kessler was very hands-on and took on many responsibilities including scouting locations, purchasing land, supervising construction, and hiring and firing staff, among others.
The grandson of Russian immigrants and the first in his family to attend college, Mr. Kessler came to Adelphi in 1961, after taking a gap year after his high school graduation. During that time, he worked for a neighborhood store, but did not receive a raise. This determined him to earn a bachelor's degree in government from Adelphi in 1965.
Mr. Kessler is an active member of the community. He is the former president of the board of the Jewish Community Center. The Kessler brothers' contribution to Strong Memorial Hospital of the University of Rochester Medical School enabled the Burn/Trauma Unit to be named after them. He lives in Rochester with his wife Karen, and has two adult children and four grandchildren.
To learn more about Adelphi University, please visit
www.adelphi.edu.
About Adelphi University: Adelphi University, chartered in 1896, was the first institution of higher education for the liberal arts and sciences on Long Island. Through its schools and programs—The College of Arts and Sciences, Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, Honors College, Ruth S. Ammon School of Education, University College, and the Schools of Business, Nursing, and Social Work—the co-educational university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as professional and educational programs for adults. Adelphi University currently enrolls nearly 8,500 students from 41 states and 63 foreign countries. With its main campus in Garden City and centers in Manhattan, Hauppauge, and Poughkeepsie, the University maintains a commitment to liberal studies in tandem with rigorous professional preparation and active citizenship.
Media ContactFor additional information, please contact:
Kali Chan
Media Relations Director
p - 516.877.4040
f - 516.877.3266
e - chan@adelphi.edu
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