Joe Kessler

As part of Joe’s passion for business, he co-founded Next-Stage Development Group LLC in 2001 to offer investment capital and hands-on experience that helps bring promising companies to the “next stage.”

Before this, he spent over 20 years in finance with his own company, Executive Auto Leasing, which grew through a strong internal sales force, loyal customers and several acquisitions until merging with SunTrust Bank. Through his valuable experience as SunTrust SVP and division CEO, Joe knows bank borrowing and lending practices from both sides of the table.

After leaving SunTrust, he started Next-Stage as its managing partner and later co-founded three commercial finance companies including Bethesda Funding LLC and Bluescale Capital LLC (factoring and asset-based lending).

Past and current board roles include Gold Lasso (software for native advertising), Global Edge Group (oil and gas industry staffing), Cliqued (social media marketing), Personal Web Assistant Corporation (IT), and MHR Technologies (RFID).

Joe served as a mentor and panelist for the University of Maryland’s Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship, MIT Enterprise Forum, Wharton School Innovation Summit and ASM Resources. Kessler was a business plans judge for the American Security Challenge.