| 3/20/2007 3:00:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| REALITY CHECK: Jerry Abramson, mayor of Louisville, Ky., delivered a real-world message about leadership to a management concepts class at Hanover College. Business and political leaders, and entrepreneurs appear regularly as guest speakers for the program. (Photo by Bronwyn Worrell/courtesy of Hanover College) |
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Business, government leaders share strategies with students
Pat Whitney
Courier Staff Writer
Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson came to Hanover to share his leadership experiences as he rose from being a novice in grassroots politics through his reign as the longest-serving mayor of Kentucky's largest city.
His talk on leadership to 47 Hanover College sophomores enrolled in the Center for Business Preparation was part of a speakers bureau that offers an experience-based education for the management concepts class.
"Abramson thoroughly engaged the students, relaying how he met with small groups and networked to find out what the community needed during his first campaign," said John Riddick, an assistant professor who teaches Center for Business Preparation classes. "He talked about his role in merging Louisville's city and county government, the first major metropolitan area in the nation to merge their city and county governments in 30 years."
When students questioned him about his future political plans, Abramson showed how passionate he is about delivering service to Louisville as its mayor - something he wouldn't be able to do as much of as a congressman, senator or in a Cabinet post if a Democratic president is elected, Riddick said.
The Center for Business Preparation is an educational program at Hanover in its third year at Hanover. Students apply for admission to it in the fall of their sophomore year and, if selected, begin core classes in addition to their other classes within their majors during the winter-term. The students, who represent 19 majors, also take core classes in financial decision-making and a program-capping course in strategic management. Two electives from courses such as professional selling, Internet startup and managing nonprofits are offered to students as part of the program.
"Students also do paid internships as consultants at local businesses," he said.
Many of the business leaders and entrepreneurs who bring in leadership strategies as guest speakers are Hanover alumni, which enhances the credibility of the program, he added.
Greg Willman, president of Qdoba Mexican Grill Restaurants, is an alumnus scheduled to speak at the Center for Business Preparation today. A 1985 Hanover graduate, he is a partner in 316 Investments Inc. with fellow Hanover graduate Phil Salsbery. 316 Investments is the holding company for Aztec Partners, which owns the Indiana rights to franchise Qdoba Mexican Grill restaurants.
In 2002, 316 Investments was named by the Indianapolis Business Journal as one of the top 25 fastest-growing companies in the city based on revenue. Qdoba's corporate office tabbed Aztec its fastest-growing franchisee for two years. The company, which has more than $13 million annually in revenue, has since been given approval to open 25 Qdoba outlets throughout Indiana.
The Mexican-fare restaurants have grown from the first opened in Denver in 1995 to 270 restaurants in more than 35 states.
Derick Gipe, a 2001 Hanover graduate and financial analyst for Eli Lilly, and John Barnard, a 1965 graduate who is president of Barnard Associates and managing director of Pearl Street Venture Funds, also will be guest speakers this month.
"The Center for Business Preparation has been in place for three years, graduating its first seniors this spring," Riddick said. "In the works are plans for a partnership with Indiana University's Kelley School of Business. The program's been looked at by many people and been really well-received."
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