Release Date: March 3, 2001

Contact: Pat Florez, 909/621-8396          

Office of Marketing and Communications News

 

HENRY R. KRAVIS AWARD FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP

AWARDED AT CLAREMONT GRADUATE UNIVERSITY

 

Claremont Graduate University student Robert Severino and his business partner, Jesse K. Lund, came up with the idea for their company, "Position Integrity," after a pilot friend died in a preventable aviation accident. "We decided that we had in our midst the technology that could have prevented his death, by combining signals from GPS satellites, a detailed map of the earth's landmass and innovative extrapolation software," explained Severino. "Position Integrity LLC now provides the aeronautical data, software applications, and web-enabled services to allow any pilot to navigate safely and legally anywhere on the globe." The company "Position Integrity" (http://administration.cgu.edu/mkt_comm/News01/www.positionintegrity.com) provides data processing and software services. Severino and Lund hope their company will foster transportation safety technology that saves lives.

 

Their company was awarded first place at Claremont Graduate University's fourteenth annual Business Plan Competition. The competition, sponsored by the Venture Finance Institute at CGU and the Robert A. Day 4+1 Program at Claremont McKenna College, rewards the most innovative and practical business plans created by students or alumni from The Claremont Colleges.

 

The award consists of a monetary prize used to assist in the startup costs of their business. More importantly, the distinction of winning the award opens doors. Kate Rogal, coordinator for the event, explained. "Basically, the monetary prize is nice, but the importance is in the recognition and networking opportunities presented."

 

CGU alumnus Bart Rollert and his business partner, Alexis Cort, took second place with their business plan "The Manufacturing Exchange," a web-based platform enabling the trade of manufacturing capability. Third place went to "Manhattan Management," a specialized chronic disease management company created by CGU alumnus Allen Sugerman.

 

The entrepreneurship awards are made possible by a gift from former Drucker School of Business Management Board of Visitors member Henry R. Kravis, who created the Kravis Fund for Entrepreneurship. The Drucker School offers graduate management education for managers from early career professionals through senior executives. The Venture Finance Institute serves as the entrepreneurial arm of the school.

 

The Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management offers an MBA program on a full or part-time basis, the executive MBA, the Master of Arts in management, a non-degree certificate program, the Master of Science in Advanced Management, and the Ph.D. in executive management.

 

Jagels Building, 165 E. Tenth Street Claremont, California 91711-6186

Tel: 909.621.8028 Fax: 909.621.8029