Spring Break
New director fills shoes for popular COB program
Christopher Klemm is new director of Austin Entrepreneurship Program
Lisa Riordan
Issue date: 4/10/07 Section: News
After five months of searching, the College of Business has found a candidate to fill the shoes of the director of the Austin Entrepreneurship Program.
Christopher Klemm, who began his new career as director of the entrepreneurship program on April 2, is that candidate.
Previously Klemm worked as the executive director of University of Washington's entrepreneurship program.
OSU's Austin Entrepreneurship Program started in 2004 and is already the largest residential university program of its kind in the country. Housed in the newly renovated Weatherford Hall, the program provides a living and learning environment designed to foster creativity and develop the entrepreneurial spirit.
Ilene Kleinsorge, dean of the College of Business, headed up the committee responsible for selecting the new entrepreneurship director.
"It was a national search," Kleinsorge said, "And he was by far the most qualified, exciting candidate."
Originally from New York, Klemm earned his doctoral degree from Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania, where he also taught classes in strategic and general management.
He co-founded Optimus Consulting in 1990, serving as the firm's president for 14 years.
Klemm spent three years as executive director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at UW, a school known for its strong business curriculum. Highly ranked by U.S. News and World Report, UW is 15th in entrepreneurship nationwide.
"We were very excited about his experience at such a top-rated program," Kleinsorge said. "Now that we're finished with the first phase of development, we look forward to his help in moving forward to the next phase."
Klemm plans on continuing many of Weatherford's unique activities and programs.
One of the programs entails executive business leaders, local and national, come in and give presentations to students at the College of Business.
"Every quarter, seven experienced business leaders visit Weatherford," Klemm said. "Students can ask questions; it's a great networking opportunity."
An executive from Hewlett-Packard was the program's recent guest.
Klemm spoke of expanding the university's entrepreneurship program to include a more diverse group of participants as his vision for the future.
"I want to develop better relations between the different colleges," Klemm said.
"I'd like to combine student skills with entrepreneurship skills. For example, we could have students working together from business and engineering to create exciting new products."
Klemm predicts that with a combination of innovation and business sense, students can go far.
"I see a phenomenal opportunity for students campus-wide," Klemm said.
Christopher Klemm, who began his new career as director of the entrepreneurship program on April 2, is that candidate.
Previously Klemm worked as the executive director of University of Washington's entrepreneurship program.
OSU's Austin Entrepreneurship Program started in 2004 and is already the largest residential university program of its kind in the country. Housed in the newly renovated Weatherford Hall, the program provides a living and learning environment designed to foster creativity and develop the entrepreneurial spirit.
Ilene Kleinsorge, dean of the College of Business, headed up the committee responsible for selecting the new entrepreneurship director.
"It was a national search," Kleinsorge said, "And he was by far the most qualified, exciting candidate."
Originally from New York, Klemm earned his doctoral degree from Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania, where he also taught classes in strategic and general management.
He co-founded Optimus Consulting in 1990, serving as the firm's president for 14 years.
Klemm spent three years as executive director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at UW, a school known for its strong business curriculum. Highly ranked by U.S. News and World Report, UW is 15th in entrepreneurship nationwide.
"We were very excited about his experience at such a top-rated program," Kleinsorge said. "Now that we're finished with the first phase of development, we look forward to his help in moving forward to the next phase."
Klemm plans on continuing many of Weatherford's unique activities and programs.
One of the programs entails executive business leaders, local and national, come in and give presentations to students at the College of Business.
"Every quarter, seven experienced business leaders visit Weatherford," Klemm said. "Students can ask questions; it's a great networking opportunity."
An executive from Hewlett-Packard was the program's recent guest.
Klemm spoke of expanding the university's entrepreneurship program to include a more diverse group of participants as his vision for the future.
"I want to develop better relations between the different colleges," Klemm said.
"I'd like to combine student skills with entrepreneurship skills. For example, we could have students working together from business and engineering to create exciting new products."
Klemm predicts that with a combination of innovation and business sense, students can go far.
"I see a phenomenal opportunity for students campus-wide," Klemm said.
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