Episode #7 – Deane Blazie
Episode #6 – Doug Von Allmen
Modest beginnings and an accounting degree out of college was the foundation to success for University of Kentucky graduate and venture capitalist Doug Von Allmen. Von Allmen, whose name graces the Von Allmen Center of Entrepreneurship at the University of Kentucky, is mostly known for founding Beauty Alliance, Inc. He said that he got the entrepreneurship ball rolling after years in public accounting when he figured out that he wanted to be his own boss.
“I was trying to find out what I really wanted to do, and I decided that I really wanted to work for myself. The work wasn’t much different. It was just that I was doing what I felt I was best at, at that particular time. I didn’t have anybody else to decide for me what was best to do,” Von Allmen said in his Founders Series interview. Additionally, Von Allmen talks about the subject of implementing ideas and using proper risk management strategies. “If you’re 70% sure, act, because you will never be 100% sure. If you wait and try to get all the nods you need to be 100% sure, you’ll never get anything done.”
In the full length interview, which is above, Von Allmen elaborates on his experiences that range from making mistakes to making an idea happen, employee/management relations, and giving back to his alma mater.
Episode #5 – Warren Rosenthal
Long John Silver’s founder and University of Kentucky graduate Warren Rosenthal was on his way from his hometown of Paducah, Ky. to Louisville to begin his career selling insurance. However, when Rosenthal had to change trains and was laid over in Lexington he met with some of his old buddies, one of which was Jerry Lederer. Lederer had once owned 13 restaurants but since food was scarce during World War II that number shrunk to only three restaurants. Wanting to expand his business to where it once was, Lederer needed a partner and offered to train Rosenthal in an industry that Rosenthal knew nothing about, for a good salary and a portion of the company. Rosenthal accepted the offer and from that point on encountered many ventures within the restaurant industry. His most notable was Long John Silver’s, which he helped grow to over 1,350 restaurants in 37 states and five foreign countries. In this Founders Series video, not only does Rosenthal discuss his come-up, he also stresses the importance of having a niche, taking chances, and keeping up with competition.
Episode #4 – Pearse Lyons
If you’re always prepared to let somebody else have the credit, you’ll be successful. That’s one of the mottos that business junkie and Alltech CEO Pearse Lyons has lived by. Business is fun for Pearse and he wants the same to apply to his employees. By never forgetting where he came from, he believes that, as a result, he has created an “Alltech” culture that is visible from the top-down. He elaborates as he discusses his company’s experience of hosting the 2010 World Equestrian Games. Among other things, the Irishman discusses how having the ability to solve people’s problems is the keynote to a sustainable business.
Episode #3 – Curt Jones
The face behind the brand that has given you freezing but yet tasty crystals in your cup, Dippin’ Dots founder and ice cream enthusiast Curt Jones, talks about how he got his brand started and how it has evolved into a creative, budding company. In this Founders Series video, Jones also discusses the importance of product placement, learning from mistakes and encouraging creativity, all of which helped him connect the dots to making his product what it is today.
Episode #2 – Lee Todd
UK alumni Lee Todd talks about his career as an entrepreneur in the screen display business before becoming the 11th president of his alma mater. In his interview, Todd discusses the importance of risk taking, making decisions and how an independent activities period at MIT helped him network his way to exposing new ideas.
Episode #1 – John Schnatter
In this Founders Series video, the face behind the “Better Ingredients. Better Pizza.” company, John Schnatter, talks about how he turned his business from a pizza shop in the broom closet of a bankrupt bar into a global enterprise known today as Papa John’s with over 100,000 employees in 50 states and 29 countries. Schnatter discusses key people and moments of his life when he realized his calling was to run a business, such as when he got his father and his bar $64,000 out of debt by making over its culture. The video is broken down into eight segments, which reflect the story, attitude, and values of the “better” pizza company.
Announcing the Founders Series interviews
The inauguration ceremony for the first inducted class of the KY Entrepreneur Hall of Fame was exceptionally inspirational for a number of reasons. We had wonderful introductions from some of the HoF team, a fantastic keynote speaker in Curt Jones, and just the presence of such exceptional people was enough to inspire anyone to go out and try to execute on their dream. These things, though, were not a surprise. We had planned them all, expected them to have this effect. What we did not expect was that the event would last almost twice as long as we had planned by very fortunate accident. The ‘acceptance’ speeches of our inductees invariably turned into stories of their early days, reflections on where their journeys had begun, and it was these stories that were the most moving, educational, and entertaining aspect of the evening by far.
Unfortunately, the crowd was limited to only 70 people, and this is something we wanted to change with the Founders Series interviews. The Founders Series interviews is a project put on by the Kentucky Entrepreneur Hall of Fame. Its goal is to share the stories of its inductees and other notable entrepreneurs in the Commonwealth in order to educate and inspire others to pursue equally ambitious and courageous endeavors.
We will be releasing the Founders Series interviews one at a time starting in Fall 2011. For now, here are some photos from the interviews.