Rea Steps On, Kelly Steps In
Peter Rea wears many hats for the Division of Business Administration at B-W. One of these just became tighter. In addition to serving as teacher and ambassador, Rea started serving as chair of the Division in 1994. He's now been named B-W's Burton D. Morgan Chair in Entrepreneurial Studies.
This position, made possible by a $1.5 million grant from The Burton D. Morgan Foundation, is designed to provide campus-wide leadership for initiatives that nurture innovation and growth in the region's economy. This means Rea is responsible for integrating entrepreneurial thinking throughout the business curriculum and across the campus, as well as creating opportunities for campus-wide outreach with entrepreneurs and the regional business community at large.
Rea is uniquely qualified for this position due to his strong internal and external relations. In 1995, he created the Business Advisory Council (BAC) comprised of an exceptional group of corporate leaders that has provided B-W's business programs with a way to remain relevant and current.
Under Rea's leadership, the BAC has evolved from a sounding board group, to an advocacy group, to a fund raising group. Today, the BAC is helping to fund the Center for Innovation and Growth. A graduate of Leadership Cleveland, Rea has extensive external relations that have benefited the business programs and will now be extended to support college-wide entrepreneurship initiatives. With over 20 years experience at B-W, Rea has unusual experience and ability to work between the College and community and within B-W's programs and culture.
“These are all things with which Peter Rea has done an exceptional job during his tenure as Division chair, so we're eager to realize the benefits of his intensified focus on these areas,” said Mark Collier, former B-W President. “We are grateful to The Burton D. Morgan Foundation for this wonderful endorsement of the work being done at Baldwin-Wallace College.”
As one hat has tightened for Rea, the demands of another were eased. J. Peter Kelly is broadening his role with the Division and leveraging his vast leadership and operational experiences. He is now serving as chair of B-W's Division of Business Administration, effective July 1, 2006.
Kelly came to B-W in 2001 following a 37-year career in the steel industry, most recently serving as head of the Executive MBA and MBA programs. He retired as board chairman and CEO of the LTV Corporation in 2000. During his career, he has served on various boards of directors, was an active leader in both U.S. and global steel industry activities and was once LTV's General Counsel.
“We are convinced that the Morgan Chair will be a significant asset in helping our region become an entrepreneurial environment that is supportive of new and developing business ventures,” said Collier. “And
we're convinced that we have a great successor in Peter Kelly as chair of the division.”
Kelly's focus will be on the activities of students, faculty, classes and graduate programs. And it will be complemented by Rea's community out-reach with business, civic and economic development leaders when combining efforts with Prof. Eric Fingerhut, director of economic development education and entrepreneurship.
An example of outreach, the Center for Innovation and Growth was launched in the spring and its mission is to involve B-W science and business students with faculty in entrepreneurial initiatives that benefit the regional economy. Some of its initial activities are the Business Clinic, created and led by Prof. Phillip Bessler. The Clinic assists in the development of more than 100 business plans each year — and partnerships with area financial institutions and organizations, such as the Council of Smaller Enterprises, the Cleveland Foundation's Civic Innovation Lab, venture-catalyst Glengary LLC and the President's Council.
In addition to his new role, Rea will teach in B-W's undergraduate and graduate business programs. “I wouldn't be able to grow into The Burton D. Morgan Chair if I wasn't surrounded by exceptional leaders, such as Peter Kelly, Eric Fingerhut, Phil Bessler and others,” said Rea. “Peter's oversight of the Division, Eric's insights about economic development, and Phil's expertise in new and growing ventures are allowing me
to look for bridges where students and faculty can contribute to the growth of the region's entrepreneurial spirit and the surrounding communities can contribute to ours.”
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