Jerry Kern.

• Position: Brief Article

Jerry Kern is no stranger to challenge. At 63, Kern remains one of the most dedicated business leaders in the vast telecommunications industry.

He's in command of On Command Corp. (Nasdaq;ONCO) and enjoying every minute of piloting the company's future from its new corporate headquarters in the Denver Tech Center. On Command is the world's leading provider of in-room interactive entertainment, Internet access, business information and guest services for the lodging industry and its guests.

Kern's career in the telecommunications industry spans more than two decades, putting the chairman and CEO of On Command on a first-name basis with most major players in the booming industry. He has built a reputation on trust and mutual respect -- a strategic attribute in today's often faceless business environment. "I'm happiest when I'm challenged. I've put a great team together and we're ready to wow Wall Street. And I'm having fun doing it," says Kern.

In 1977, Bob Magness retained Kern, a corporate lawyer, as Telecommunications Inc.'s outside legal counsel when the cable company was taking its first baby steps. "Bob was one of the greatest people in my life and our relationship continued up until the time of his death," says Kern.

During his tenure with TCI, Kern was responsible for crafting the AT&T/TCI merger and represented TCI in numerous other high-profile mergers and acquisitions, including the Time Warner/Turner Broadcasting...