Kellner named Harvard Club's Wisconsin Business Leader of the Year

Ted D. Kellner, one of Wisconsin’s top investment professionals and corporate citizens, has been named the 2016 Wisconsin Business Leader of the Year by the Harvard Business School Club of Wisconsin.

Karen Hung, president of the Harvard Business School Club of Wisconsin, said Kellner, who is executive chairman of Milwaukee’s Fiduciary Management Inc., exemplifies the core qualities the club looks for in choosing someone for the annual award: leadership and character, sustained business success and positive civic involvement.

“It’s really an honor for us to be able to award this year’s Business Leader of the Year to Ted Kellner, who has consistently experienced and demonstrated business results, and influence in the broader community,” Hung said.

Fiduciary Management Inc., often called FMI, was launched in 1980 by Kellner and Don Wilson. Today the firm manages more than $25 billion in assets. Kellner, a Port Washington native, also founded Fiduciary Real Estate Development Inc., which owns and manages about $850 million in multifamily residential units. In addition, Kellner holds leadership roles in other businesses and organizations.

The Kelben Foundation is the philanthropic family foundation of Mary and Ted Kellner.

Throughout his business career, Kellner has taken charitable and civic leadership positions and has stepped up to spearhead various fundraising campaigns. Among organizations on which he serves as a board director, trustee or chairman: Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Fund for Wisconsin Scholars, Milwaukee World Festival Inc., Greater Milwaukee Committee, Medical College of Wisconsin, Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, Milwaukee School of Engineering, University of Wisconsin Foundation, the University of Wisconsin Alumni Association and BMO Harris Bradley Center.

A dinner event honoring Kellner is scheduled for May 17 at the Pfister Hotel in downtown Milwaukee. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is the planned keynote speaker.

Proceeds support scholarships that send leaders of Wisconsin nonprofit organizations to attend a course in strategic management at Harvard Business School. The nonprofit leaders who have been selected to receive this year’s scholarships will be introduced during the program.