Dr. Robert Kern is the retired chairman and CEO of Generac Power Systems of Waukesha, Wis., and Dr. Patricia Kern served on the company’s board of trustees. The Kerns founded the company in 1959 out of their garage with one employee, and grew it into a 2,000-person operation with a number of facilities in Wisconsin, the Midwest and overseas. The company produces generators for industrial and consumer markets. The company was sold in 2006 and resulted in the establishment of the Kern Family Foundation, chaired by Patricia Kern.
The Kerns lead the Kern Family Foundation and are longtime supporters of MSOE and benefactors of MSOE’s scholarship programs. The Foundation is a major proponent for Project Lead The Way (PLTW), a program that helps to introduce middle- and high-school students to engineering as a career. Thanks in part to the Kerns’ support, MSOE is the National Affiliate University for PLTW in the state. Through their phenomenal support of the Kern Center, which opened in 2004, the Kerns have provided first-class exercise and sports facilities for all MSOE students, faculty and staff.
Robert Kern has served the university as a member of the Board of Regents since 1992. He is an active member of several professional and special interest organizations including the Society of Automotive Engineers, Antique Automobile Club, Classic Car Club and Antique Scientific Instrument Society of England.
Patricia Kern served as chairwoman of the board of trustees of the Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, chairwoman of the board of Baptist Green Lake Conference Center and chairwoman of the Friends of Old World Wisconsin.
Robert Kern holds an Honorary Doctor of Engineering and Patricia Kern holds an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from MSOE.