Craig Kissell
’79 M.Ed. Counselor Education President and General Manager Kissell Motorsports, Inc. Upon graduation, Craig worked for a construction company in Montoursville, Pa., as its director of personnel. He and his wife, Kate, then opened an equipment rental yard in Lock Haven, Pa., followed by another rental yard in State College, called Kissell Equipment, on W. College Avenue. The couple opened Kissell Motorsports, Inc. in March 2000. In the meantime, they have been buying properties, fixing them up, and selling them. They have five children.
“When I graduated from Penn State in 1979 the job market and economy were very similar to our present environment, so I worked for a construction company in my hometown of Montoursville, Pa. A few years later, I interviewed with an employment specialist who determined that I needed to be self-employed. I remember his exact words. ‘You really need to work for yourself. Go open an ice cream shop or something, but you should sign your own paycheck.’ I eventually opened Kissell Motorsports, a European Motorcycle shop. So what does an M.Ed. in counseling have to do with all this? I’ve always tried to create a pleasant work place and to provide a quality product and a service that people trust. My degree from Penn State had much to do with who I am today.”
Penn State Education
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