Jerry Jendusa, who launched an aviation products
company in Wisconsin that grew to seven locations worldwide before it was
acquired, will speak during the 13th annual Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’
Conference, to be held June 2-3 in Madison.
Visit www.WiTrepsConference.com to register and learn more. “Early
bird” registration is open through May 11 and special hotel rates apply through
early May.
Jendusa ran EMTEQ for 18 years until it was
acquired in 2014 by BE Aerospace, which bought EMTEQ and another firm for a
combined $470 million. Under Jendusa’s leadership, the New Berlin-based company
went from basement startup to global business with more than 630 employees and
more than $100 million in sales. In that time, EMTEQ also executed three
acquisitions and launched startups in Montana, Brazil and Canada.
Still grounded in Wisconsin, EMTEQ is
recognized as a leader in cabin comfort and interior lighting, exterior
lighting, aircraft systems and integration, design, certification and
consulting services.
Jendusa was an Ernst & Young Midwest
“Entrepreneur of the Year” in 2014. After EMTEQ’s sale that same year, Jendusa
co-founded STUCK LLC, which was established on a unique platform of business advisory
services, an early stage investment fund and an ethic of giving back to the
local community when success is achieved.
A UW-Milwaukee graduate, Jendusa serves as
the co-chair of Scale Up Milwaukee and on the board for The Children’s Hospital
Foundation.
“Jerry
Jendusa’s story will cover not only his own entrepreneurial journey, but how
young companies can avoid getting ‘stuck’ as they grow and build on their
business plans and strategies,” said Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin
Technology Council.
Produced by the Tech Council, the annual conference is one of the largest
events for entrepreneurs and early stage investors in the Upper Midwest. More
than 500 people are expected to attend the two-day conference, to be held June
2-3 at the Alliant
Energy Center, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, just off Madison’s South
Beltline Highway.
Additional
speakers and features will be announced in coming weeks, all under the theme of
“Nurturing Entrepreneurial Roots.” Other highlights will include:
–
The
2015 Ken Hendricks Memorial “Seize the
Day” award recipient
–
Other
nationally known speakers
–
Diligent Dozen: Top 12 finalists from the
Governor’s Business Plan Contest square off
–
Panel discussions for emerging companies on how to
“Launch, Grow and Succeed”
–
Innovation Showcase featuring more than 45 companies
from around the state
–
Plenty
of chances to connect with seasoned
entrepreneurs and investors over food and refreshments
Sponsors so far include: Aberdean Consulting; Alliant
Energy; American Family Insurance; American Transmission Co.; Ascendancy
Advisors; AT&T; Baird Capital; Baker Tilly; BDO; BloodCenter of Wisconsin; BMO
Harris Bank; Cresa Madison; Concordia University; Dedicated Computing; Exact
Sciences; Filament Games; First Business Bank; Godfrey & Kahn; Google; Group
Health Cooperative; HP Enterprise Services; Madison College; Madison Gas &
Electric; Makin’ HEY! Communications; Marquette University; Marshfield Clinic
Applied Sciences; Michael Best & Friedrich; MIOsoft; Midwest Prototyping; Murphy
Desmond; NEW Capital Fund; New Horizons of Wisconsin; Nordic; PowerBuy 4 You; Quarles
& Brady; Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.; Safenet Consulting; Tweedee
Productions; University Research Park; Uber; UW-Madison Discovery to Product
(D2P); UW-Madison Office of Corporate Relations; UW-Milwaukee Research
Foundation; Venture Investors; Whitewater University Technology Park; Whyte
Hirschboeck Dudek; WIN-Lake Superior; Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.; Wisconsin
Technical College System; and WTN Media.
For more
information, visit www.witrepsconference.com or call 608-442-7557.
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