Kyle Kessler

Kyle Kessler, MPA, is the executive director of the Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas. Kessler has over 20 years of experience in public policy analysis and development, with most of that experience in health and human services. Kessler began his career in Kansas State Government, where he worked for over 10 years; his last position was deputy secretary for public and governmental services at the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services. In this position, Kessler was responsible for management of the agency’s governmental affairs, communications and customer service functions. Prior to accepting his new position with the Association eight years ago, Kessler worked for a large behavioral health and child welfare provider for nearly seven years, most recently as their executive vice president of public affairs with similar responsibilities to those he held in his last position at Kansas SRS and managing their public affairs in five states. He currently serves on the board of directors for HealthSource Integrated Solutions and the National Association of Counties (NACo) and on the executive committee of the National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors (NACBHDD). He also served as president of the Kansas Children’s Alliance and as treasurer of the Kansas Head Start Association. Kessler holds bachelor’s degrees in political science and history from Emporia State University and a master’s degree in public administration from Kansas State University. He and his wife, Mindi, a clinical marriage and family therapist, are the proud parents of two daughters – Grace, a college sophomore in Atlanta, Ga., and Molly, a high school senior in Topeka.