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News Release

Last modified: Monday, April 4, 2011

Biomet founder will keynote fourth annual entrepreneurial networking event at IU's Kelley School

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 4, 2011

Editors: Reporters are welcome to cover the program, which begins at 1 p.m. Friday at Godrey Graduate and Executive Education Center, 1275 E. 10th St. Contact George Vlahakis at 812-855-0846 or gvlahaki@indiana.edu for more information.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Dane A. Miller, co-founder of Biomet, will visit Indiana University's Kelley School of Business as a distinguished entrepreneur of the Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation on Friday (April 8) in Bloomington. Miller will be the keynote speaker for the center's fourth annual IU Entrepreneurial Connection Day.

During the program, Miller will be recognized by the Kelley School and Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation for his entrepreneurial legacy with the William L. Haeberle Entrepreneurial Legacy Award. The honor is bestowed upon individuals in the state of Indiana who represent the very best in entrepreneurship. The award was created in honor of Haeberle, Kelley School of Business professor emeritus of management and entrepreneurship, for his indelible impact on the Indiana entrepreneurial culture.

The entrepreneurial focused event is for Kelley alumni and current students. The program includes a panel featuring recently graduated entrepreneurs and a networking session and reception. Kelley alumni with entrepreneurial experience are invited to participate by giving "elevator" pitches about their companies, their services, hiring or internship availabilities or mentoring interests. The students are asked to pitch their business ideas and needs.

Donald F. Kuratko, executive director of the Johnson Center, said, "This unique networking format encourages our alumni to interact in an open venue where everyone can benefit by their appearance. 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."

In 1978, Miller, along with three other individuals with orthopedic manufacturing experience, formed Biomet Inc. in Warsaw, Ind. Their goal was to become the most responsive company in orthopedics while simultaneously providing patients with the highest quality and most clinically proven products in the marketplace. Since its inception until March 2006, Miller served as president and chief executive officer of the company.

With Miller at the helm, Biomet grew from $17,000 in sales its first year into one of the leading musculoskeletal companies in the world -- with annual sales exceeding $2 billion. Following his retirement, Miller shared his experiences for a book, The Maverick CEO: Dane Miller and the Story of Biomet.

The IU Entrepreneurial Connection Day is sponsored by the Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. For more information, call 812-855-4248 or visit www.kelley.iu.edu/jcei or https://iuec.eventbrite.com.

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