Written by Chris Lindeke | Photos by Craig Schreiner, submitted
The Universities of Wisconsin recognized DLK Enterprises, Inc., and UW-Whitewater on Friday, Oct. 23, for their shared commitment to student success and the betterment of surrounding communities.
DLK Enterprises, owned by the Kachel family of Whitewater, earned the Universities of Wisconsin Regents Business Partnership Award, which acknowledges and celebrates connections between the Universities of Wisconsin and state businesses that create opportunities for students, fuel innovation in the marketplace, and enhance communities across Wisconsin.
Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents President Kyle Weatherly presented DLK Enterprises and UW-Whitewater with the award during a presentation at the James R. Connor University Center.
“DLK Enterprises represents the very best of what a university-business partnership can achieve,” said Kyle Weatherly, president of the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents. “Working innovatively together with UW-Whitewater, the company has helped shape the student experience and strengthen the university’s connection to the community it serves.”
“The partnership between DLK Enterprises and UW-Whitewater is a strong example of how sustained commitment over many years makes a difference for students and the local community,” said Johannes Britz, Senior Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs of the Universities of Wisconsin. “The partnership goes beyond the generosity of DLK Enterprises and the Kachel family — it strengthens Whitewater and its surrounding communities.”
DLK Enterprises was founded in 1957 by UW-Whitewater alum David L. Kachel and remains family owned and operated. The company, which rents housing properties to students and senior citizens, was built on a vision of supporting the student experience and strengthening the Whitewater community.
DLK Enterprises’ support over the last 60-plus years of Warhawk Athletics, UW-Whitewater’s academic programs, and the arts has been integral in the university’s sustained success.
“DLK Enterprises and the Kachel family have been driving forces to enhance our institution for more than 60 years,” said Corey A. King, UW-Whitewater chancellor. “Beyond the number of projects and initiatives we have worked on together, what makes this relationship special is the trust we have built and our shared commitment to the Wisconsin Idea — creating opportunities for our students and our region that go beyond the borders of our campus.”
“Our partnership with UW-Whitewater works because we take pride in what we contribute to one another and share a commitment to student success,” said Mike Kachel, president of DLK Enterprises. “We are proud to be alumni-founded, alumni-staffed, and student-centered, and the university’s education and support help make our success possible. Through scholarships, employment opportunities, and reinvestment in the university, we help students build their futures while strengthening the community we call home.”
Several facilities on the Whitewater campus bear the Kachel family name, including the DLK/Kachel Fieldhouse, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year; the Kachel Family Sports Complex, the outdoor facilities to the north of the fieldhouse; Kachel Gymnasium, dedicated in 2000 and located on the second floor of the Williams Center; the Kachel Center in The Young Performing Arts Center; and the Kachel Center for Innovation and Business Development in Hyland Hall.
The Kachel family was a founding donor for Perkins Stadium, and supported the building of facilities in close proximity, including the Berezowitz Student Athletic Complex and the Coulthart Family Pavilion. Multiple land gifts from the family have allowed construction of university properties, including Pulliam Hall.
The family has funded more than 1,000 UWW student scholarships and has provided meaningful, hands-on employment opportunities for more than 1,200 students and alums in leasing, marketing, property management and operations in various family-owned businesses since the 1960s. It has also sponsored numerous university events, including shows at The Young, fan travel buses for premium athletics events, and several student, club, and team fundraisers.
Last November, DLK Enterprises and the Kachel family announced a $250,000 donation to UW-Whitewater’s Winther Hall renovation project to improve the home of the College of Education and Professional Studies. The project — titled “Warhawks Rising: Powered by DLK Enterprises since 1957” — will modernize teacher education and support innovative learning environments for future teachers who learn in the college as part of an $89 million renovation project on the building and neighboring Heide Hall.
DLK Enterprises and the Kachel family have been the largest donor to UW-Whitewater to date.
“The effects of DLK Enterprises and the Kachel family are felt everywhere on our campus and in our local community,” said Katie Kuznacic, assistant chancellor for university advancement and UW-Whitewater Foundation president. “Thousands of Warhawks have benefitted from the family’s generosity, collaboration and partnership, and we are grateful for their decades of philanthropic leadership and holistic support.”
David L. Kachel met his wife, Lolita, at UW-Whitewater. David was a member of the class of 1948, and Lolita earned a bachelor’s degree in business education two years later. David was heavily involved at UW-Whitewater, serving Warhawk Athletics and the College of Business and Economics in leadership roles and through committee and club membership, while Lolita was a member of Visitors Board and the Irvin L. Young Gala Dedication Committee.
The couple earned the Outstanding Service Award from the UWW Alumni Association in 1990 and was inducted into the UW-Whitewater Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998, receiving the Distinguished Service Award for their generous contributions and support of Warhawk Athletics. David passed away in 2011, and Lolita died 10 years later at the age of 92. David was posthumously inducted into the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Hall of Fame in 2012.
All seven of David and Lolita’s children and six grandchildren attended UW-Whitewater, and the family remains active at the university.
Jon D. Kachel ’75, a community banker for 50 years who last served as president of Commercial Bank, is a UW-Whitewater Foundation Board Director Emeritus and a member of the College of Business and Economics Advisory Board. He continues to be active in fundraising for the university and Whitewater community.
Larry Kachel ‘79, owner of Kachel Financial Group, is a business leader in the Whitewater and Brookfield communities and an advocate for the university, serving on the College of Education and Professional Studies Advisory Board and as a former co-president of the UW-Whitewater Alumni Association.
Mike Kachel ‘94, President of DLK Enterprises, is a member of the Chancellor’s Community Advisory Council and UW-Whitewater Athletics Hall of Fame Board of Directors.
All three family members have served on various chancellor, provost, dean, and athletics search and screen committees as community representatives.
Additional DLK Enterprises Board of Directors include: Linda Kachel, an attorney in Sherman Oaks, California; David S. Kachel, president of Wisconsin Dairy Supply Co.; Thomas Kachel ‘87, self-employed investor and entrepreneur; and Kerri Kachel ‘81, retired science teacher at Whitewater High School.
For decades, members of the family have advocated for UW-Whitewater and shared the story of the institution’s impact with stakeholders at the local, state and federal level, working with members of multiple political parties.
“The impact of this relationship can be seen across campus, throughout the local economy, and in the lives of students who carry their experiences here into the world,” said Mike Kachel. “As we look ahead, we remain committed to working alongside UW-Whitewater, keeping students at the center of our efforts and supporting the university’s goals. Whatever challenges and successes the future holds, we look forward to embracing them together.”
