The sleek, black Mercedes slips through the early morning streets of New Albany as Jack Kessler completes his brief home-to-office trip. By 9 a.m., Kessler, co-founder and chairman of The New Albany Company, is checking off appointments at a brisk pace and fielding multiple phone calls; “Let’s discuss what restaurant to put in there,” he says quietly, shuffling a clutch of papers on his desk.
At 77, there’s no slowing down for this nationally-renowned real estate developer, who – along with Leslie Wexner, 75, founder of The Limited and chairman and CEO of Limited Brands – engineered and executed the concept for New Albany a quarter-century ago. Trim and meticulously attired in a navy pinstripe suit, pale blue shirt and matching tie, Kessler’s blue eyes sparkle as he enumerates the latest New Albany successes: a rapidly expanding business park, an empty-nester concept ready to go and the construction phase of The New Albany Center for Healthy Living.
Kessler’s extraordinary business acumen is well-documented: He’s in the Central Ohio Business Hall of Fame and is a perennial on Columbus’ Power 100 list. But glance out his office window and it’s apparent that a cornerstone of Kessler’s life is philanthropy. Directly across the street, the Charlotte P. Kessler branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library anchors Market Square. Named in honor of his wife, it recognizes Charlotte’s dedicated service to the library and the Kesslers’ gift of $1 million to the Columbus Metropolitan Library Foundation in 2007.
“Charlotte’s passionate about the library and the arts,” Kessler says, smiling.
Patrick Losinski, chief executive officer of the Columbus Metropolitan Library, agrees. “Jack and Charlotte make a good team. She’s a 14-year library board member and Jack’s been terrifically supportive. Charlotte helped launch the library foundation and its endowment fund and fundraised to make sure the New Albany branch was well-stocked with books.”
From the start of Kessler’s career in 1972, when he founded the John W. Kessler Company, he has focused as much on building community and giving back – through board service and civic undertakings – as he has on construction itself. Wexner, a classmate at The Ohio State University; developers Melvin Schottenstein and Dan Galbreath; and banking executives John B. McCoy and Frank Wobst were a veritable band of brothers in the evolution of Columbus.
“We stuck together and assumed leadership roles in the Columbus community when they came our way,” Kessler says.
Kessler has never said “no” when asked to lead.
He has chaired significant fundraising campaigns for United Way of America and the Columbus Museum of Art. He is also a former board director for JPMorgan Chase & Co. He has served as president of Columbus School for Girls, alma mater of Charlotte and their three daughters. And he’s done a stint as chairman of the Ohio Public Works Commission.
“He gets bored and anxious if he’s not working,” says daughter Jane Kessler Lennox, 43, a real estate agent at New Albany Realty. “My dad’s got such a strong work ethic.”
His current calendar is just as filled. Kessler’s an executive committee member of the Columbus Partnership and sits on numerous boards: the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation, the Mount Carmel New Albany Surgical Hospital, Abercrombie & Fitch and the Columbus Regional Airport Authority.
Kessler’s leadership has guided entities through pivotal moments. As an OSU trustee, he served on the search committee that awarded E. Gordon Gee his first turn as university president in 1990. “That was a time-consuming undertaking,” Kessler says, “but very rewarding.”
And Kessler was board president at the museum back in 1981, when Columbus College of Art and Design, previously part of the museum, split off to become independent. “It’s nice to see both are very successful,” Kessler says.
One of his proudest accomplishments – The New Albany Community Foundation – established a philanthropic component in 1994 to support New Albany initiatives in education, arts, wellness and the environment.
“As one of the founding fathers of the foundation, Jack had the foresight to create a continually progressive community,” says Cindy Hilsheimer, current foundation board chairwoman. “We all learn from the way he stewards.”
Kessler credits the success of the foundation to consistent and enthusiastic support from the community. “It’s about what New Albany has done,” he says. “We live in a community that loves to give back. Look how we’ve come together with Pelotonia. And the Remarkable Evening fundraiser – it raised more than $2 million for The New Albany Community Foundation last year alone.”
Despite the mile-long list of business successes, boardroom positions and accolades, Lennox says her dad considers his greatest accomplishment to be his family. All three daughters and their families reside in New Albany, and Kessler takes an active role in their lives, from OSU football games to teaching his grandson to drive. “Even in big meetings, if one of us calls, he always, always steps out and takes the call, no matter what. With him, it’s family before everything,” she says.
But being well-connected and having a sterling reputation as a problem-solver does occasionally have its drawbacks, Lennox admits. “You should hear some of the calls he gets. It’s crazy what people ask him to do, little things – their trash didn’t get picked up. But he takes care of it.”
She laughs. “He’s a nice guy. He has a big capacity for forgiveness.”
Rhonda Koulermos is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at laurand@cityscenemediagroup.com.
