Lawyer, business leader and Everest climber Louis Kasischke named to MSU-DCL Board BY JACQUELINE J. HARRINGTON Louis W. Kasischke Louis W. Kasischke has been elected to the MSU-DCL Board of Trustees. Kasischke is a 1967 graduate of the law college and recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from MSU-DCL in 1999. Kasischke, of Harbor Springs, Michigan, is a senior partner in the law firm of Dykema Gossett, specializing in corporate and tax law. He is author of the book, Michigan Closely Held Corporations, as well as numerous articles on corporate and tax law in local and national journals. Additionally, he is a fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel, one of only 393 members nationally, and was selected by colleagues for all editions of “The Best Lawyers in America,” a list that represents about one percent of the nation’s lawyers. Kasischke serves as past chairman of the State Bar of Michigan Taxation Section, lectures extensively on corporate, tax and business matters, and has served as editor of a column in the Michigan Bar Journal for 17 years. He has climbed most of the classic mountains in the world, including the highest on six continents, and is one of the survivors of the worst tragedy in Mt. Everest history, in 1996, as chronicled in many books and movies. Kasischke also has extensive business experience. He is the former president, CEO and majority shareholder of Pella Window and Door Company; director of Barton-Malow Company, one of the nation’s largest construction companies; advisor to venture capital companies on legal, capital, management and tax matters; and a former CPA with Deloitte & Touche. While Kasischke’s professional accomplishments are impressive and multidimensional, he is also known as a mountaineer. He has climbed most of the classic mountains in the world, including the highest on six continents, and is one of the survivors of the worst tragedy in Mt. Everest history, in 1996, as chronicled in many books and movies. Kasischke frequently lectures on the incredible events of the expedition, on what facing death means to life, and on critical insights for personal and business success. “Climbing Mt. Everest and the challenge of law school both teach you that the personal qualities that matter most to determine the outcome of your challenges, and of life, are the qualities within you—called character,” said Kasischke. “At MSU-DCL, we take pride in training lawyers in competence and character.”