Talent
Dennis Kleidon
President & CEO
Dennis learned the meaning of working smart in a double career as a full-time university professor and the president of Kleidon & Associates: "It’s not easy, but the intellectual flow between teaching and the world of commerce is a fast-track to broader understanding. The only way to succeed is to be hard-working, priority-minded and caring." He began his teaching career at The University of Illinois and rose through the ranks at The University of Akron to full professor and acting department chair. Dennis founded Kleidon & Associates as a reality check for himself and his students and steered its transition to fully digital. Dennis also developed Designer Grids, a product that went into international distribution within three years. In 2008, he was named Small Business Advocate of the Year by the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce, an honor that, despite its name, has been awarded only three times. Dennis has served on multiple university, community and professional boards.
