UWM Grad Jerry Jendusa Gives $1 Million for Entrepreneurship

MILWAUKEE _ Chancellor Mark Mone of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee announced today that Milwaukee entrepreneur and UWM alumnus Jerry Jendusa has committed $1 million to the university’s Lubar Center for Entrepreneurship. Jendusa’s gift will support an entrepreneur-in-residence program, allowing students to learn from individuals who have successfully started their own companies.

“Providing students with access to entrepreneurs creates a dynamic, learning-rich environment,” Jendusa said. “I am proud to support entrepreneurs in residence, who will bring real-world experience to the classroom and introduce students to innovators who are shaping Milwaukee and our region. Big entrepreneurial ideas start as a dream, and I want to encourage students to chase their dreams.”

Jendusa started EMTEQ, a global provider of aerospace products, just five years after graduating from UWM’s Lubar School of Business in 1989. That company, which began in his basement, had 650 employees in seven locations and more than $100 million in sales when he sold it to B/E in 2014. The same year, Ernst & Young named Jendusa its Entrepreneur of the Year for the Midwest. He is now co-founder and CEO of STUCK LLC, a company that helps entrepreneurs find success by breaking through financial strains or organizational roadblocks.

“I am deeply grateful to Jerry for his support of entrepreneurship at UWM,” Chancellor Mark A. Mone said. “A strong culture of innovation is essential to the vibrancy of Milwaukee and Wisconsin, and leaders like Jerry are helping us create a program that will produce the next generation of entrepreneurs.”

The Lubar Center for Entrepreneurship was established last year with a $10 million lead gift from Marianne and Sheldon Lubar. A new building is being designed to house this program as well as a new welcome center.

“I am thrilled to have Jerry’s support for furthering our entrepreneurial efforts at UWM,” said Brian Thompson, director of the Lubar Center for Entrepreneurship. “As an alumnus and a successful entrepreneur himself, Jerry has a keen insight into what it takes to launch a new idea, and he understands the importance of connecting UWM students with leaders who can share their own experiences.”

About UWM

Recognized as one of the nation’s 115 top research universities, UW-Milwaukee provides a world-class education to more than 27,000 students from 81 countries. Its 14 schools and colleges include Wisconsin’s only schools of architecture, freshwater sciences and public health, and it is a leading educator of nurses and teachers. With a budget of $667 million, UW-Milwaukee partners with leading companies to conduct joint research, offer student internships and serve as an economic engine for southeastern Wisconsin. The Princeton Review named UW-Milwaukee a 2016 “Best Midwestern” university based on overall academic excellence and student reviews.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.