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Dennis grew up on a small family farm in northwestern Illinois. He started tinkering with cars
early on and purchased his first, a T-Bird, at age. He also played guitar and trumpet in a
variety of rock, folk, and school bands.
Upon graduation from high school, he went to North Central College in Naperville, Illinois where
he majored in both chemistry and physics. His undergraduate research in quantum physics
received an American Chemical Society award. He continued his automotive interest and,
through the course of his college years, owned a number of muscle and sports cars. He also
kept up his music, playing in local coffee houses.
After receiving his degree, Dennis took up the pedal steel guitar and started playing in countryrock
bands in the Chicago area. He has opened for acts such Charlie Daniels, Waylon Jennings
and Dr. Hook. However, after two years, Dennis decided to retire from the music scene and go
to graduate school.
He attended the University of Idaho, from which he received a Ph.D. in chemistry. While there,
Dennis became an avid climber and winter mountaineer. He also finally married his high school
sweetheart, Ellen.
Dennis accepted a position as a product development scientist at The Procter Gamble
Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. There he either worked on, or created, most of PGs food
products in the store including Pringles, with which he bears a striking resemblance to the
handlebar mustachioed character on the can. Dennis holds a number of patents on PG
products. Once again having some disposable income, Dennis got back to playing with classic
cars. This is also where he and Ellen had their three children.
After years at P&G, Dennis took a position as Director of Product Development at a Bristol-
Myers Squibb company in Evansville, Indiana where he led the development of Boost nutritional
energy drink, among other products. In he met the founder of the fledgling Bradley David
Productions, Inc., and he became co-owner of the company shortly thereafter. A My Classic
Car pilot series, hosted by Dennis, was developed for TNN and received strong ratings when it
aired on TNN in early. Based on this success, the show premiered as a weekly series on
TNN in January. After only months on the air, Dennis was selected by The Cable Guide
and Total Television as one of the SHot Faces of Cable for.
In the show moved to SPEED channel where it reaches over million households. Now
in production for its sixteenth season, My Classic Car is one of the highest rated programs on
the network. In addition, Dennis is the Executive Producer of the motorcycle television
programs, Corbin’s Ride On and Trippin’ on Two Wheels, and the reality series, Texas
Hardtails, as well as the independent film, November.
Dennis and his business partner received the Ernst Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for
Indiana in. Dennis also serves on the Board of Directors of the Specialty Equipment
Market Association (SEMA), as well as a number of academic and industry advisory boards.
In Dennis became sole owner of the production company and renamed it MadStache, Inc.
and with his own lifelong love of cars and motorcycles, he states, This has got to be the
ultimate job! |
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