FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 11, 2005
Contact: Sally Muller or Marlene Smith at 608-442-7557
To attend: Go to www.wisconsintechnologycouncil.com
MADISON – Milwaukee native Kay Koplovitz, who founded USA Networks and co-founded Springboard Enterprises and other ventures, will speak during a June 7th luncheon at the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference in Milwaukee.
Koplovitz was a trail-blazer in the cable television industry, having founded USA Network and later serving as chairman and CEO of USA Networks, which included the Sci-Fi Channel and USA Networks International. They grew out of Madison Square Garden Sports, a predecessor network launched by Koplovitz that established a business model based on subscriber fees and advertising revenues.
Having built USA Networks into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise, Koplovitz left the company when it was sold in 1998. Since then, she has taken her visionary spirit into the venture and private equity markets. In 1998, President Bill Clinton appointed her as chair of the National Woman’s Business Council, a bi-partisan commission to advance opportunities for women entrepreneurs.
Shortly after that, she co-founded Springboard Enterprises, a national organization that has raised nearly $2 billion in equity for women-led firms. She also co-founded Boldcap Ventures, a venture capital fund based in New York.
She co-authored her first book, Bold Women, Big Ideas, to inform and inspire women entrepreneurs. The book includes a chapter on the Wisconsin entrepreneurs behind the start-up of ioGenetics and Gala Design.
More recently, she co-founded with seven colleagues “The Director’s Council,” a national search firm focused on sourcing and placing independent candidates, drawing primarily from women and minorities, on corporate boards.
“Kay Koplovitz will bring home an entrepreneurial message that should inform and inspire business owners at all stages of their development,” said E. Kelly Hansen, co-chair of the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference and CEO of Neohapsis.
The third Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference will celebrate the state’s emerging high-growth, knowledge-based economy and feature other nationally known speakers, panelists and “hands-on” workshops. The conference will be held June 7-8 at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee, 333 W. Kilbourn.
The conference will also unveil the winners of the second Governor’s Business Plan Contest, the second “Seize the Day” award, the first Governor’s Technology Transfer Award and the inaugural Young Entrepreneurs Award. There will be 20 “how-to” panel discussions for entrepreneurs, all featuring state, regional and national business experts.
Gov. Jim Doyle is invited to speak at the June 7th awards dinner. Author and futurist Joel Kotkin will speak at the conference’s June 8th luncheon.
The Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference is being co-produced by the Tech Council, which is the non-profit science and technology adviser to the Governor and the Legislature, and a number of statewide and regional partners.
For more information or to register, go to www.wisconsintechnologycouncil.com
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