Strome Dedication Entrepreneurship Week

StartNorfolk
The East Coast's Premier Business Competition and Speaking Conference
September 19-21
Ted Constant Convocation Center
Start Norfolk is a weekend long event bringing together individuals of different mind and skill sets- entrepreneurs, engineers, developers, designers, and business people-with the goal of building a viable startup over a weekend. Visit www.startnorfolk.com for more information.
Entrepreneurial Student Panel Discussion
Tuesday, September 23
12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
North Mall, Webb University Center
Parking will be available in the 49th Street Garage.
Monarch Physical Therapy Clinic
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
10:00 a.m.
Goode Theatre
Reception and tours immediately following the program
Strome Entrepreneurial Center Dedication and Hall of Fame Induction
Thursday, September 25
Invitation Only
Parking will be available in the 49th Street Garage.
Mark Strome, his wife, Tammy, and their Strome Family Foundation have agreed to give $11 million to ODU in support of a new, multipronged program to nurture business entrepreneurs. The ODU program that Strome envisions will go a step further than the traditional classroom, and co-curricular offerings are already in the works. These will include the new Strome Entrepreneurial Center and entrepreneurs club that will encourage students and faculty to congregate and exchange ideas; regular lectures by practicing entrepreneurs; competitions among students; and a formal way of linking mentors with promising students.
Hall of Fame Inductees:
William E. Lobeck, Jr. '63 - Former President and CEO of Vanguard Car Rental USA Inc. (the former operator of National Car Rental and Alamo Rent-A-Car brands)
Jamie Grooms '84 - Chief Executive Officer, Florida Institute for the Commercialization of Public Research
Ting Xu '88 '89 - Founder and President, Evergeen Enterprises, Plow & Hearth LLC
John R. Lawson, II - President and CEO, W.M. Jordan Company, Inc.
Entrepreneurial Roundtable Discussion
Thursday, September 25
12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Chandler Recital Hall, Diehn Center
Parking will be available in the 49th Street Garage.
Old Dominion University students will have an opportunity to hear from some of America's top entrepreneurial minds and ask questions about their own business passions. The panelists - University benefactors Mark and Tammy Strome; Susan Amat, founder of Venture Hive, which recently partnered with ODU to license its innovative entrepreneurial education program; and Amy Cosper, editor of Entrepreneur Magazine - will share insight about their experiences in business start-ups.
President's Lecture Series featuring Amy Cosper
Thursday, September 25
7:00 p.m.
North Cafeteria, Webb University Center
Parking will be available in the 49th Street Garage.
Amy Cosper, vice president/editor-in-chief at Entrepreneur Media Inc., knows what it means to drive a business idea forward with passion, creativity, savvy, and yes, even a little moxie. Her mission? Keep entrepreneurs alert to the network of tools fundamental to launching and growing their businesses-whether they're people, technologies, funding sources, or best practices. Visit https://www.odu.edu/life/culture/lecture-series/presidents for more information.
Strome College of Business Dedication
Friday, September 26
10:00 a.m.
Kaufman Mall
Parking will be available in the 49th Street Garage.
Mark Strome and university officials have agreed on a basic curriculum that involves a general education course on entrepreneurial strategies that will be housed in the newly named Strome College of Business. A second-tier course will be offered through most, if not all, of the other ODU colleges and will be tailored to entrepreneurs according to discipline. Advanced courses, incorporating lessons in areas such as startup financing, will complete the curriculum in the business college.
Mark Strome
Mr. Mark E. Strome founded Strome Investment Management, L.P. in 1992 and serves as its Chief Investment Officer. Mr. Strome founded Strome Securities L.P. in 1992. Mr. Strome is the Founder and primary stockholder of securities brokerage company and investment management company and is responsible for raising and managing $1.4 billion in private placement hedge fund investments focusing on non-traditional investments including commodities, currencies, bankruptcy reorganizations, and venture capital and private equity investments.
Prior to founding Strome Investment Management, he was a Portfolio Manager at Kayne Anderson.
Strome serves as Chairman of the Board at Strome Investment Management, L.P.; and a Director at Endurance Ventures. He also serves as a Member of the Board of Directors of National Water and Power, Eco-Duro Corporation, NWP Services Corporation and Mobil Satellite Ventures. He is a Trustee for New Roads School and Big Bear Foundation, and serves on the Board of Advisors of John Hopkins Medical Center.
Strome is a frequent guest at investment speaking forums and has featured in number publications including the Wall Street Journal, Barrons, Forbes, and others.
Tammy Strome
Tammy Strome is current Director of the Strome Family Foundation. She established the foundation in 1995 along with her spouse, Mark Strome '78. Tammy is a psychologist who is involved in local and international philanthropic projects related to education.
Prior to her current roles, Strome worked in Wall Street selling commercial paper and then transitioned to working with equities. She also helped establish the American Funds Group in Norfolk. In the past, she has often served as a freelance writer.
In the community, the Stromes have donated millions of dollars to over 40 non-profit organizations through the Strome Family Foundation. The Foundation was initially created to support local needs and causes that touched the Strome family most directly. The Stromes have since broadened their scope to include larger programs as well as supporting unconventional, risky, and even unpopular causes. Some of these examples include funding medical research on the brink of acceptance or a first capital drive to establish a permanent facility. The Stromes have described themselves as "venture donors looking for higher returns." In addition, they have been frequent sponsors to charitable events such as the Telluride AIDS Benefit, the Children's Bureau Round-Up Event, and an event supporting Chrysalis.

Click here to read the latest issue of Monarch Magazine, featuring Mark and Tammy Strome.
ODU's Board of Visitors Formally Approves Name Change for Strome College of Business
Old Dominion University’s Board of Visitors has formally approved the change of name of its business school to the Strome College of Business.

When discussing an entrepreneurial venture with students and alumni, it became quickly apparent that this direction was a necessity for a real world education across all disciplines, not just business majors. Startups will continue to trigger economic growth and anyone from the arts to the sciences becomes a potential player in job creations with education, encouragement and inspiration.

There is ample evidence worldwide that entrepreneurial activity creates jobs, empowers individuals, revitalizes communities and enhances our collective well-being all the while being very effective at durably healing and preventing social problems. America leads the world in our standard of living because of its entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial culture.

I found that business managers are very creative. That is the driving force. They are creative enough to carry out innovations.
