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Mark Kennedy brings extensive political, business and community leadership experience to his advocacy for continued American leadership in nurturing peace and prosperity by advancing freedom and free markets. Kennedy served three terms representing Minnesota in the United States House of Representatives (2nd District 2001-3, 6th District 2003-7). He served as a Presidential appointee to the Advisory Committee on Trade Policy and Negotiation under both Presidents Bush and Obama.
In business, Mark helped Pillsbury buy Häagen Dazs and expand globally, was a Fortune 100 senior executive (Macy’s) and served in a global role with Accenture. As Chief Executive Officer of Chartwell Strategic Advisors LLC, Kennedy now shares his insights with clients and audiences around the world on how to succeed in an increasingly globalized and competitive world.
As a first generation college grad that began working at age 14, washing dishes at a bakery and pumping gas at a bait shop, Mark is passionate about keeping the America Dream alive for future generations.
Mark has always shown a willingness to stand firm to advance and defend freedom, even if not popular. During his 2006 U.S. Senate race Kennedy was described as "bold and smart" on Fox News’ Fred Barnes and CNN’s John King said that "Kennedy doesn't ignore the elephant in the room; to the contrary, he looks it straight in the eye."
Kennedy has long championed expanding prosperity through open trade and free markets. Mark was the deciding vote in giving the President Trade Promotion Authority and in passing the Central America Free Trade Agreement. In Congress, Kennedy supported tax relief for hard working families which sparked an economic revival and created millions of jobs. Mark was the deciding vote for legislation to give consumers more control of their own health care and was also the deciding vote on a bill to control unfunded entitlement spending.
Kennedy’s track record of reform and creative collaboration included partnering with twenty Democrats to lead legislation and having more than half the Democrats in the House co-sponsor bills he introduced. Such bills included authoring the Teacher’s for Tomorrow’s Careers Act with New Jersey Democrat Rush Holt, the Fair Care for the Uninsured Act with Illinois Democrat Dan Lipinski, Rural Access to Emergency Services Act with North Dakota Democrat Earl Pomeroy, the Clean Alternatives for Energy Independence Act with Democrat Colorado Mark Udall, the Emergency Wetlands Loan Act with California Democrat Mike Thompson, the Child Support Enforcement Act with California Democrat Juanita Millender-McDonald, SLAM Act with Oregon Democrat Darleen Hooley to increase penalties on those who traffic and sell meth to our young people.
Kennedy has been instrumental in founding three lecture series – the Minnesota Rough Riders, the Frontiers of Freedom Lecture Series at St. John’s University and the Economic Club of Minnesota. A graduate of St. John’s University, Kennedy began his career as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and received a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) with distinction from the University of Michigan.
Mark and Debbie, his wife of 30 years, have four young adult children and when not traveling reside in Watertown, Minnesota.
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