Michael Kern, Chief Executive Officer
Michael is a second-generation process server who has worked in every part of litigation support since 1987. He leads the company his father founded in 1961, he is a past President of both CALSPro and NAPPS, and in 2023 NAPPS gave him its highest honor, the Donald C. “Mac” MacDonald Award.
Michael Kern
Process server
since 1987
Chief Executive Officer
- 2023NAPPS Donald C. “Mac” MacDonald Award Recipient
- 2016CALSPro Bert Rosenthal Memorial Award Recipient
- NAPPSPresident (2017-2019)
- CALSProPresident (2012-2014)
- In the business since 1987
- Registered process server
- Past CALSPro and NAPPS President
- 2023 NAPPS Mac Award
Michael Kern is the Chief Executive Officer of Direct Legal Support and a second-generation California process server. He grew up in the business his father, Dave Kern, started in 1961 as Dave Kern Attorney Service, and he has worked in every part of litigation support since joining full time in 1987.
The NAPPS Donald C. “Mac” MacDonald Award
On April 22, 2023, the National Association of Professional Process Servers (NAPPS) presented Michael with the Donald C. “Mac” MacDonald Award at its 41st Annual Conference in Philadelphia. The Mac Award is the highest honor NAPPS gives.
The NAPPS Board created the award in 2001 to recognize professionalism and distinguished service to the association and the process serving profession, and named it for founding member Donald C. “Mac” MacDonald. It is not given every year, only when someone has gone above and beyond what the profession expects. Michael is the 20th recipient since the first award in 2002. CALSPro, the association he led as President from 2012 to 2014, received it in 2012.
“In appreciation for the uncompromising dedicated service, exceptional visionary insight and focused unwavering leadership for the betterment of the National Association of Professional Process Servers”
The award inscription, NAPPS Donald C. “Mac” MacDonald Award
The CALSPro Bert Rosenthal Memorial Award
The California Association of Legal Support Professionals (CALSPro) named Michael the 2016 recipient of the Bert Rosenthal Memorial Award, its award for outstanding and dedicated service toward perpetuating and elevating the photocopy and process serving industry. CALSPro announced the award in the Winter 2017 issue of its newsletter, CALSPro Press. Michael had also been a nominee for 2014 to 2015.
The article looked back on more than twenty years with the association. Michael joined CALSPro in 1994 and was part of the strategic planning sessions that shaped its direction as it grew out of CAPPS, the association’s earlier name. He served as Area Governor, Director, Advertising Chairman, Directory Chairman, Vendor Chairman, Website Chairman, Secretary-Treasurer, Second and First Vice President, Chairman of the Board, and President. In the late 1990s he led a Hawaiian raffle campaign that brought in much-needed funds, and he helped build CALSPro’s marketing and advertising plans, its website and its job post feature.
“Michael is very proud of our association and our profession, while continuing to strive to be the very best at whatever he does.”
CALSPro Press, Winter 2017
A Family Business, Learned From the Ground Up
Michael learned the business as a kid. On school breaks he set up court filings, filed documents at the courthouse, called runners for status updates, rode along with route drivers on pick-ups, and rode with his father to learn how to serve papers correctly. He credits his father with the get-it-done attitude he still brings to work: hard work gets you everything in life.
Michael graduated from Hart High School in Santa Clarita in 1987 and joined the family business that year, becoming a registered process server. He served papers while studying business marketing at College of the Canyons, and he embraced the company's founding philosophy: not to be the biggest attorney service in California, but the best.
Dave Kern Attorney Service grew into Direct Legal Support, Inc., a full-service litigation support company. In 2012 Michael's son David joined the company, the third generation of the Kern family in the business.
Industry Leadership
Michael has been a member of the California Association of Legal Support Professionals (CALSPro) since 1994 and served on its Board of Directors from 1998 to 2016, in every capacity including President and Chairman of the Board. In May 2015 he was elected to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Professional Process Servers (NAPPS), served as its Technology Chairman from 2015 to 2017, and was elected NAPPS President for the 2017 to 2019 term.
| 1996 to 1998 | Southern Area Governor |
|---|---|
| 1998 to 2000 | First Vice President and Board of Directors |
| 2001 to 2002 | Board of Directors and Directory Chairman |
| 2002 to 2005 | Board of Directors and Vendor Chairman |
| 2005 to 2007 | Second Vice President |
| 2006 to 2008 | Chairman of the Board and Membership Chairman |
| 2007 to 2008 | Advertising Chairman |
| 2008 to 2011 | Board of Directors and Advertising Chairman |
| 2011 to 2012 | Secretary and Treasurer |
| 2012 to 2014 | President and Board of Directors |
| 2014 to 2016 | Board of Directors |
CALSPro past President Chad Barger, who led the association from 2010 to 2012, wrote:
“Many of the ambitious items the Board of Directors and I set out to accomplish this year would not have happened without the hard work and dedication of Michael Kern. Through the late nights and countless hours, Michael has earned this honor and I congratulate him on his success!”
Chad Barger, CALSPro President, 2010 to 2012
Recognition
Over the years Michael has received:
- Donald C. “Mac” MacDonald Award, 2023. The highest honor of the National Association of Professional Process Servers (NAPPS). About the award.
- Bert Rosenthal Memorial Award, 2016. CALSPro's award for outstanding and dedicated service toward perpetuating and elevating the photocopy and process serving industry. He was also a nominee for 2014 to 2015. About the award.
- CALSPro Member of the Year, 2003 to 2004 and 2010 to 2011.
- CALSPro Presidential Recognition Award, "Going the extra mile," 2002 to 2003.
- CALSPro Rookie of the Year, 1997 to 1998.
A Note From a Client
An attorney who used Direct Legal for his service of process matters wrote in 2011:
“At times, when my requests might incur unnecessary expenses, Michael Kern himself has called me to tell me that a service I’ve requested is not necessary, or a better one is available for a lesser price.”
“Michael Kern runs a class operation!”
Ian Wallach, Esq., Feldman & Wallach
More of Our Team Leaders
- Sheri KernChief Financial Officer
- David KernPresident and SVP of Operations
- Maria OungLead Litigation Support Coordinator
- Joe HuberDirector of Business Operations
- Jason BurkeSenior Litigation Support Manager
- Alcarlo CastanarSenior Litigation Operations Strategist
- Mike GarciaLitigation Support Coordinator
- Mikey KernLead Litigation Support Coordinator
- Michael BarrettoLitigation Support and Brand Engagement Manager
See everyone on our Our Team page.
Questions About Michael
Who founded Direct Legal Support?
Michael's father, Dave Kern, founded the company in 1961 as Dave Kern Attorney Service. It grew into Direct Legal Support, Inc., and three generations of the Kern family have worked in the business.
When did Michael Kern become a registered process server?
In 1987, the year he graduated from Hart High School in Santa Clarita and joined the family business full time.
What is the NAPPS Mac Award?
The Donald C. “Mac” MacDonald Award is the highest honor of the National Association of Professional Process Servers. It recognizes professionalism and distinguished service to NAPPS and the process serving profession, and it is not given every year. Michael received it on April 22, 2023, at the NAPPS 41st Annual Conference in Philadelphia.
What is the CALSPro Bert Rosenthal Memorial Award?
It is the California Association of Legal Support Professionals (CALSPro) award for outstanding and dedicated service toward perpetuating and elevating the photocopy and process serving industry. Michael was the 2016 recipient, announced in the Winter 2017 issue of CALSPro Press, and he was also a nominee for 2014 to 2015.
Which industry associations has Michael led?
He was President of CALSPro from 2012 to 2014 and served on its board from 1998 to 2016. He joined the NAPPS Board of Directors in 2015 and was elected NAPPS President for the 2017 to 2019 term.
Contact Direct Legal
Create a free account and submit your order in a few minutes. There are no setup fees. If you have a question first, call us or send a message.
Existing client? Log in to your portal