Mike Foley | University Advancement | 23 October 2007

William K. "Bill" Richardson, a partner and managing director with DragonBridge — an international merchant bank and venture capitalist with offices in Honolulu that helps China companies go public in the U.S. market — urged BYU-Hawaii business students interested in starting their own companies to consider "high-growth entrepreneurship."

Richardson, a prominent Honolulu attorney and former volleyball player for the University of California, Santa Barbara, explained that for the past 15 years his career has revolved around venture capital in high-growth companies. "The key is building the next great company," he said.

Mike Foley | University Advancement | 23 October 2007

Stephen W. Gibson, the new Entrepreneur-in-Residence in the Mark and Laura Willes Center for International Entrepreneurship shared seven highly effective habits with BYU-Hawaii School of Business students today during the first lecture in the CIE's 2007-08 series.

Gibson, who sold his multi-state medical oxygen business in 1993 and then became an entrepreneurship professor at BYU in Provo, is perhaps better known here at this point for participating in the CIE's annual business plan competitions. In 1999 he and his wife, Bette, founded the Academy for Creative Enterprise (ACE) in Cebu, Philippines; and he was named the BYU-Hawaii Executive of the Year in 2002. He also recently started the Utah Angels, a venture capital group that helps aspiring entrepreneurs.

Mike Foley | University Advancement | 17 August 2007

BYU-Hawaii's Mark and Laura Willes Center for International Entrepreneurship (CIE) is getting a new home between the Ke Alaka'i office and the Post Office in the Aloha Center, and is moving forward with distance learning and mentoring programs.

CIE Director Gregory V. Gibson, J.D., said he's thrilled with the new facilities and the extra visibility they will give the program. Upon completion the new CIE headquarters will include offices for him, the visiting Entrepreneur in Residence, "and also all of our support systems. We'll probably move in the beginning of September," he said.

Mike Foley | University Advancement | 17 April 2007

The BYU-Hawaii Mark and Laura Willes Center for International Entrepreneurship and the Gene and Allyson Yamagata Foundation recently sponsored the second annual Japan Business Plan Competition, which drew 29 teams, and are planning to extend the program to several other Asian countries.

CIE Director Gregory V. Gibson, J.D., explained that the Yamagata Foundation hosted this year's competition among five group finalists on April 6 in the Forever Living Products Building in Tokyo.

"The contestants presented their plans before a very distinguished panel of four Tokyo businessman, who are also Church members with extensive expertise in finance and new venture formation," Gibson said. "The competition was open to all Church members in Japan."

Mike Foley | University Advancement | 27 March 2007

The BYU-Hawaii School of Business, using courses from its own curriculum and other departments, recently started a new public management minor that is open to all students.

"We're very excited about the launch of the new public management minor," said Dr. Clayton Hubner, Dean of the School of Business. "This provides an opportunity for BYU-Hawaii students to add a minor to their course of study that will enable them to improve their job prospects upon graduation

Hubner explained the new initiative, which has been under development for several years, has value "in improving the marketability of all of our students who are interested in working for governmental organizations or NGOs [non-governmental organizations] in their home countries."

Mike Foley | University Advancement | 20 March 2007

Scott Hampton, a financial advisor with the Hawaii office of Edward Jones — a large full-service investment firm — shared 10 important personality characteristics with BYU-Hawaii students during the School of Business' March 20 entrepreneurship lecture in the McKay Auditorium.

Hampton pointed out even though he is an employee, he also has a lot of autonomy. "Entrepreneurship has to do with taking control...and creating something from nothing." He added that Edward Jones advisors also "operate independently as long as we're legal, ethical and profitable. Therefore, I believe we're entrepreneurs, except that I don't have to go and build the infrastructure."