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Media Contacts

George Vlahakis
University Communications
gvlahaki@indiana.edu
812-855-0846

Sue Artmeier
Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
artmeie@indiana.edu
812-855-4248

Last modified: Thursday, March 26, 2009

Jack Stack, well-known entrepreneur and author, to keynote IU Entrepreneurial Connection program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 26, 2009

EDITORS: The media is welcome to cover the program, which will begin at 1 p.m. in the forum of the Godfrey Graduate and Executive Education Center, 1275 E. 10th St. Stack will be available for interviews from 9:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Contact George Vlahakis at 812-855-0846 for more information.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Jack Stack, chief executive officer of SRC Holdings, will visit Indiana University's Kelley School of Business as a Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation on Friday (March 27) in Bloomington.

Named by Inc. magazine as one of "America's 25 Most Fascinating Entrepreneurs" and one of the "Top 10 Minds in Business" by Fortune Small Business, Stack will be the keynote speaker for the center's second annual IU Entrepreneurial Connection program.

Stack will share some words of wisdom from his more than 25 years of experience in building culture and growing SRC Holdings. His speech, "An Insider View of an Entrepreneurial Company," will lead into a larger discussion on the making of an entrepreneur. Registration is limited to Kelley School undergraduate and MBA students and faculty and staff. The event is not open to the public.

Joining Stack on a panel following the keynote will be Dr. Gary J. Anderson, founder and managing general partner of TL Ventures and a venture capitalist-in-residence at IU, and William L. Haeberle, professor emeritus of management of the Kelley School of Business. Donald F. Kuratko, the Jack M. Gill Chair of Entrepreneurship and executive director of the Johnson Center, will moderate the discussion.

This is Stack's second visit to the Kelley School since 2005.

"We wanted to build off of last year's inaugural networking program. There is no better way than to bring Jack back to tell his entrepreneurial story," Kuratko said. "It exemplifies the true passion of an entrepreneur. I am very pleased that he was willing to return to spend time with our entrepreneurial students."

Following the panel discussion, there will be the entrepreneurial networking program. Kelley alums with entrepreneurial experience have been invited to participate by giving "elevator" pitches about their companies, their services, hiring or internship availabilities or mentoring interests.

"This unique networking format encourages our alumni to interact in an open venue where everyone can benefit by their appearance," Kuratko said. "We want the entrepreneurial alumni of the Kelley School of Business to know that they are genuinely important to us and that they can be a conduit to the future successes of our entrepreneurship program."

The Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation began this event last year with the hope of creating an annual entrepreneurial networking forum for Kelley School students and alumni. Last year's event drew nearly 250 participates.

Stack, famous for his open book management style, has authored The Great Game of Business and A Stake in the Outcome. Stack stresses "creating wins," noting that it takes "work and strategy; self-esteem, pride, and teamwork don't happen by accident."

The Kelley School's Johnson Center hosts the Distinguished Entrepreneur program and the IU Entrepreneurial Connection Day to inspire students and enable them to hear the successes and challenges of starting or expanding a business. The Distinguished Entrepreneur program is supported by the Dye Speaker Series and the Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. For more information, call 812-855-4248 or visit www.kelley.iu.edu/jcei.