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updated July 27, 2009
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High-Tech Leaders Pass Along
Words of Wisdom to Future Innovators
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The willingness to take risks, embrace technology and explore new
business models have been principles passed along by successful Wabash
Valley and Indiana high-tech corporate leaders to Rose-Hulman Institute
of Technology students, faculty and staff members during this summer’s
Rose-Hulman Ventures Distinguished Speaker Series.
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Exchanging Ideas:
Kristie Sturgeon (middle right in black), plant
leader of General Electric's Unison Engine
Components operations, passes along important advice
to student interns and project managers at Rose-Hulman
Institute of Technology this summer during Rose-Hulman
Ventures' Distinguished Speaker Series. |
The weekly executive conversations allow a variety of leaders to pass
along advice about business, technology, entrepreneurship and the future
to the next generation of innovators. Speakers have included company
presidents, plant leaders, intellectual property attorneys and retired
key executives.
“This speaker series presents an outstanding opportunity for Rose-Hulman
students, who are spending the summer as interns at Rose-Hulman
Ventures, to learn from the top leaders in a variety of career fields,”
states Julia Williams of Rose-Hulman’s Leadership Development Group,
which has joined Rose-Hulman Ventures in supporting the series. “It is
great to be around successful people and learn from their broad
perspectives.”
Bill Kline, associate dean for the Rose-Hulman Ventures program added:
“This is our fourth year of hosting the Distinguished Speaker Series and
is our best yet. It is a rare opportunity to have speakers of this
caliber share their experiences with us.”
Brent Schludecker is learning lessons every day as president of Terre
Haute’s Midwest Compliance Labs, a rising scientific enterprise that was
developed after several colleagues lost their jobs following the closure
of Pfizer’s local operations. After establishing its business plan and
gaining state-of-the-art equipment, the company is slowly gaining
clients and making a name in the regional high-quality laboratory
testing market.
“The older you get, the tougher the risk becomes,” Schludecker recently
told the Rose-Hulman group. “I originally wanted to start my own
laboratory when I got out of college, but didn’t have the fortitude and
money. Then, when Pfizer shut down the plant, the opportunity once again
opened itself (to start a lab) and I was more open to taking the risk.
Where the risk may have been low (when getting out of college), it was a
little more risky now. You have a family and families of other investors
to worry about. It takes a lot of faith –- in yourself and your ideals
–- to be successful. I believe we’re going to be successful in one of
the most challenging times to start a business.”
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Words Of Wisdom: Terre Haute native and Rose-Hulman Institute of
Technology graduate David Mitchell (right) discusses topics with faculty
members during a recent workshop at Rose-Hulman Ventures. Mitchell is a
retired key executive of several successful business enterprises in
North and South America. |
The Wabash Valley’s higher education community is lending a helping
hand, including technical expertise from Rose-Hulman Ventures and market
research, business advice from Indiana State University’s School of
Business and assistance from Terre Haute’s Innovation Alliance, an
economic development and education initiative. Also, students from Rose-Hulman
and ISU have spent this summer helping the company as laboratory
technician interns.
Kristie Sturgeon, plant leader at General Electric’s Unison Engine
Components/Tri Remanufacturing operations, extolled students to take
advantage of internships and leadership opportunities, establish
mentoring relationships, and expand their network of business and
professional contacts.
“Understand that the decisions and friendships that you’re making today
may have an important impact on your future,” stated Sturgeon, who has
worked as Six Sigma Black Belt and Learn Manufacturing Leader at GE
Aviation. She has utilized her college degree in organizational
leadership to serve in management for three companies. She now oversees
operations at two successful local plants that have nearly 500 employees
and $180 million annual sales.
“(The Rose-Hulman students) are in a perfect spot at Rose-Hulman
Ventures. You’re learning those vital skills that will make you
successful in the future,” she stated.
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Success Story: Brent Schludecker, president of Terre Haute's Midwest
Compliance Labs, tells Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology students,
faculty and staff members how he and a small group of former Pfizer
colleagues started the local business with some keen ideas, experience
and lots of hard work. |
Other speakers have included Ron Dollens, retired president and chief
executive officer of Guidant Corporation and a former key executive of
Eli Lilly and Company’s Medical Devices and Diagnostics Division; Jim
Coles, partner and co-chair of the Intellectual Property Group for the
Indianapolis law firm of Bose, McKinney & Evans; Bill Polian, president
of the Indianapolis Colts; the Cook Group’s Dan Peterson, vice president
of industry and government affairs, and Matt Waninger, president of MED
Institute; David Mitchell, retired chairman of the Bolivian Power
Company who now helps advise local budding entrepreneurs and business
owners; Dennis Cuneo, president of DC Strategic Advisors; and Matt
Branam, president of Rose-Hulman.
Besides the informal presentations, each speaker has the opportunity to
have lunch with Rose-Hulman Ventures student interns and project
managers. Also, several guests have also had roundtable meetings with
Rose-Hulman faculty and staff members.
Professors attending these
workshops, organized by Andy Mech and Bill Kline, have included David
Purdy, Mike Moorhead and April Bryan of the Department of Mechanical
Engineering; Hossein Hariri and Atanas Serbezov of the Department of
Chemical Engineering; Mark Brandt and Ross Weatherman of the Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry; Jessica Livingston of the Department of
Humanities and Social Sciences; David Voltmer of the Department of
Electrical and Computer Engineering; Terry Schumacher of the Department
of Engineering Management; Kevin Kessinger of the Office of Business and
Finance; Mike Schmeckebier of the Office of Career Services and Employer
Relations; and Institute Librarian Rachel Crowley.
More information about Rose-Hulman Ventures can be found at
www.rhventures.org.
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