Ken Nilsestuen, current APS treasurer, has announced his candidacy for APS president in 2016. As president he will bring years of leadership experience as a philatelist, as a business professional, and as a non-profit board member.
Ken has stated: “The role of the APS board is to exercise its independent fiduciary oversight on behalf of all members of the APS. The organization will prosper by offering desired services to stamp collectors at all levels. The board must work to see that the APS succeeds, our staff succeeds, and help our new executive director as he learns about the stamp collecting hobby. Through all of this, we, the board, must be responsive to our members.”
Nilsestuen’s business experience includes an over 40 year career as a CPA in the largest accounting firms and at the head of two NYSE-listed corporation tax departments. In the late 1990s he was also co- owner of Summit Auctions, a stamp and ephemera auction house. Throughout his entire career Ken focused on managing clients and his own staff to function as effective teams.
He has also been active in non-profit boards for more than 30 years. In addition to the APS he has served as treasurer or president of the Akron Symphony, the International Institute of Akron, the Cleveland International Piano Competition, the Collectors Club of Akron, the Garfield-Perry Stamp Club and the Rubber City Stamp Club.
Ken has been an active philatelist since he was a kid, entering organized philately as a young adult. A Minnesota native, Ken soon became editor of the Twin Cities Philatelic Society newsletter, and over time he joined the APS (1979), CCNY, France and Colonies Philatelic Society, and many other philatelic groups. He has been president of the France & Colonies society for seven years. Ken has been exhibiting for more than 30 years, winning many gold medals and a Grand Award. He made it to the C- of-C in 2010, where he tied for second. Ken qualified for the APS judging corps in 2004, has judged more than 40 shows and is now an active accredited chief judge. This past year he also served on the search committee for the new APS executive director.
In addition to his other accomplishments, Nilsestuen has also written articles for the American Philatelic Congress Book (2004 and 2015) and other publications, mostly on French area philately. In 1999 he co- authored a monograph on Algerian cancels.
Ken believes his extensive business experience, love for the APS and philately, and collaborative leadership style is the necessary combination for a great society and staff guided by an independent and effective board.
