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PI Wins Henry R. Kravis Award for Entrepreneurship from Claremont Graduate University January 26, 2001 Claremont Graduate University student Robert Severino and
his business partner, Jesse 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. In fact the first life-saving product
co-produced by their third partner Kimberly Dubbs has been permanently honored
in the Smithsonian National Aviation and Space Exploration Wall of Honor.
"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" (www.positionintegrity.com)
provides data processing and software services. Severino, Lund and Dubbs 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 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 open 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 Masters of
Arts in management, a non-degree certificate program, the Masters of Science in
Advanced Management, and the Ph.D. in executive management. Peter Drucker himself was there to congratulate Severino
and Lund at the reception after the award competition. For more information contact Robert A. Severino at
Position Integrity
or by email at: robert.severino@positionintegrity.com
Picture 2 (below): All judges from the
event from left to right: Milton S. Hahn, Managing Director, Direct Stock
Market; Gary Evans, Professor of Humanities/Social Science, Harvey Mudd
College; Lucia Worthington, Worthington Management, William Barrington,
Barrington & Associates, Jenny M. Sakhrani, CFO, Philosopher's` Stone
Solutions; and J. Jeffrey Schnoor, Senior Vice President, Entrepreneurial
Investment Corp.
Picture 3 (below): Lund, Severino and Bruce Lerner (right), primary author of the winning business plan, relaxing after the competition.
Picture 4 (below): CGU staff members from
left to right: Richard L. Smith, Director, Venture Finance Institute; Kate
Rogal, coordinator for the Kravis Award event; and Janet Smith, Director of the
Robert A. Day 4+1 Program.
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