THREE ENTREPRENEURS TO SHARE THEIR SECRETS AT MARCH 26 CONFERENCE IN INDIANAPOLIS

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Three successful entrepreneurs will share the secrets of their success and their plans for navigating through coming changes at the 1998 William L. Haeberle Conference, scheduled March 26 in Indianapolis. The event is sponsored by the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Indiana University's Kelley School of Business.

Sharing their insights will be Jeffrey Smulyan, president, chairman and chief executive officer of Emmis Broadcasting Corp.; Richard Johnson, president and founder of Johnson Oil Co.; and Michael Fitzgerald, CEO of InterArt and cofounder of its subsidiary, Sunrise Publications.

The conference, "Preparing Indiana Companies for Growth in the Next Millennium," will be from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Capital Conference Center, 201 N. Illinois, Suite 200. It is named for Haeberle, professor emeritus of business administration and a faculty member of the Kelley School of Business for more than 50 years.

Emmis Broadcasting, of Indianapolis, owns and operates nine FM radio stations and two AM stations serving Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, St. Louis and Indianapolis. The company also publishes two magazines. Between February and November 1997, Emmis' net revenues rose 22 percent to $98.7 million.

Johnson Oil Co., based in Columbus, Ind., owns and operates a highly successful chain of Bigfoot Food Stores.

InterArt Distribution, based in Bloomington, Ind., developed from Sunrise Publications, a greeting card company aimed at members of the Baby Boomer generation. The company also sells and distributes writing paper, gift wrap, personal journals and other gifts.

Other sessions at the conference will include:

"Success Secrets for Technology-Based Companies." Jack Gill, founder and general partner of Venture Partners, of Palo Alto, Calif. and Houston Texas, will discuss what high-tech companies need to do to succeed in the future.

"The Value of Shedding Non-Core Activities." Five leading service providers will discuss the value of outsourcing non-core operations. Panelists will include Richard Corwin, Lincoln Investment Management Inc.; James Dodson, The Dodson Group; Rondol Eagle, George S. Olive & Co.; Michael Rechin, National City Corporate Banking Group; and Brent Tilson, Adminiserve Inc.

"New Forces That Will Change The Way You Manage." Haeberle and Daniel W. DeHayes, IU professor of business administration and the center's director, will discuss an IU study that suggests new forces coming in the next century, such as a deflationary economy, will necessitate changes in how companies are managed.

Conference sponsors are National City Corporate Banking Group of Baker & Daniels, Lincoln Investment Management Inc., and Geo. S. Olive & Co., with additional support from Lawrence D. Glaubinger, chairman of Stern & Stern Industries.

Cost of the conference is $100 per person. To register or to obtain more information, contact the center at 812-855-4248.

(George Vlahakis, 812-855-0846 or 812-855-3911, gvlahaki@indiana.edu)

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