October 12, 2009 — Coral Gables — The University of Miami School of Business Administration has appointed Ken Colwell as its new director of entrepreneurship programs and Eric Kriss as an entrepreneur-in-residence. Colwell joins the School after six years at Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business, where he was an assistant professor of strategy and entrepreneurship. In addition to teaching and conducting research, Colwell has developed entrepreneurship curricula, managed a student incubator, run business plan competitions and mentored entrepreneurship students. Kriss is a seasoned entrepreneur who has founded and co-founded a number of successful companies including Bain Capital, one of the world’s largest private equity firms; MediVision Inc, which grew into the nation’s largest network of eye surgery centers; and Workmode Inc, a Web applications development firm. He is currently chairman of Kriss Motors Company, a Miami-based developer of automotive information Web sites.

“These appointments will enable the School to continue build upon our world-class entrepreneurship programs which are dedicated to providing students with both classroom and real-world opportunities that will help them succeed as entrepreneurs,” said Barbara E. Kahn, dean of the School of Business Administration. “Ken’s experience in building and running successful entrepreneurship education programs, coupled with Eric’s background in building multimillion dollar companies from the ground up, will help the School further distinguish itself as a leader in entrepreneurship education and research.”
The School’s entrepreneurship programs, which Colwell will oversee, include an entrepreneurship major and minor, graduate and undergraduate entrepreneurship clubs, a student consulting program for new ventures in South Florida, an entrepreneurial mentoring program, the entrepreneur-in-residence program, a think tank dedicated to entrepreneurship research, the long-running annual University of Miami Business Plan Competition, and yearly participation in Global Entrepreneurship Week.

“I look forward to working within the School of Business Administration, across the University and with the wider business community to build upon the School’s strong existing programs and to explore and develop new opportunities that nurture student-run enterprises and help students achieve their entrepreneurial goals,” said Colwell.

As an entrepreneur-in-residence, Kriss will mentor students who are interested in entrepreneurship including those who have already started their own businesses. He will also be a regular speaker in entrepreneurship classes and host workshops to help entrepreneurs make the right decisions as they develop their businesses.

“I know from experience that young entrepreneurs especially need all of the support and mentorship they can get, and I look forward to sharing the lessons I have learned in this exciting role,” said Kriss.

Colwell holds a BSc from McGill University, an MBA from San Francisco State University and a PhD from the University of Oregon. Kriss received a BA degree from Amherst College and an MBA from the University of Chicago. He is a director of Best Doctors Inc., a global health insurance and services company that links the expertise of peer-selected world class specialists to local physicians worldwide.

###

About the School of Business Administration
The University of Miami School of Business is a comprehensive business school, offering undergraduate business, full-time MBA, Executive MBA, MS, PhD and non-degree executive education programs. One of 12 colleges and schools at the University of Miami, the School is located in a major hub of international trade and commerce and acclaimed for the global orientation and diversity of its faculty, students and curriculum. The School of Business has been committed to fostering student entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial thought leadership for more than 60 years. Through its unique results-driven approach to entrepreneurship education, the School offers a robust entrepreneurship curriculum, supports programs to nurture student-run businesses and provides a research environment where entrepreneurial thinking flourishes. More information about the University of Miami School of Business can be found at http://www.bus.miami.edu.