Kent E. Frese, Ph.D.
Founder & CEO, FactorFactory · Principal, TeamLMI · Industrial-Organizational Psychologist
Kent E. Frese is an Industrial-Organizational psychologist who founded FactorFactory to bring the rigor of I-O psychology to assessment tools that consultants and organizations actually want to use. He holds a Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Capella University and brings 25+ years of experience in leadership development and organizational consulting, spanning front-line management to the C-suite and the founding of multiple companies.
Assessment & Psychometric Expertise
Kent's I-O psychology training is the foundation of every FactorFactory assessment. His expertise spans:
- Psychometric assessment design — Item Response Theory (IRT), Thurstonian forced-choice scaling, classical test theory, and modern best-worst methodologies
- Personality and behavioral measurement — the Five Factor Model, DISC frameworks, 360-degree feedback systems, and leadership assessment
- Validation and norming — construct validity, criterion-related validity, differential item functioning, and normative sample development
- Applied organizational psychology — selection systems, leadership development programs, team dynamics, and organizational culture assessment
Education & Credentials
Education
- Ph.D., Industrial-Organizational Psychology — Capella University
- M.S., Industrial-Organizational Psychology — Capella University
- B.S., Electrical Engineering — Villanova University
Certifications & Affiliations
- Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP)
- Hogan HBRI Certified
- Certified Professional Behavioral & Values Analyst
- Human Research Curriculum certification (CITI)
Academic Contributions
Kent serves as adjunct faculty at Capella University, supervising doctoral research in organizational psychology. His published work includes a chapter on strategic planning methodology in the Handbook of Systems Sciences (Springer, 2020), and his doctoral dissertation on successful family-business succession informs his work on organizational continuity. He is also the author of Give Them the Keys, a book on family-business succession.
The Engineering & Psychology Combination
What makes Kent's approach distinctive is the combination of engineering discipline and psychological science. His Villanova engineering background brings systems thinking, measurement precision, and scalable design to assessment development; his I-O psychology doctorate provides the theoretical frameworks, validation methodology, and psychometric rigor. The result is assessments that are both scientifically sound and practical for coaches, consultants, and HR professionals.