New Co-chair Announced for iNET Board

Lexington, Ky. (March 15, 2016) — The University of Kentucky College of Communication and Information recently announced that current Innovation Network for Entrepreneurial Thinking (iNET) advisory board member Randall Stevens will serve as the board co-chair.

Although an academic certificate program within the College of Communication and information, iNET is open to all UK students and maintains a network of partners at the UK and beyond that supports iNET’s goals to prepare students to be future innovators and entrepreneurial leaders. The network includes stakeholders in entrepreneurial education and representatives from UK colleges and programs as well as the local entrepreneurial community. Advisory board members serve as mentors, coaches and competition judges and collaborate on innovative ideas and common goals.

“The goal of iNET is to offer UK students, across all colleges, courses and extracurricular opportunities to engage in entrepreneurial ways of thinking,” Stevens said.

Stevens replaces Jamie Leddin as board co-chair, and along with co-chair Dan O’Hair, dean of the College of Communication and Information, will be responsible for leading the direction of the advisory board.

“The iNET chairs develop overall direction for the program and present it to the board for feedback and guidance,” Stevens said. “The board is designed to bring together a diverse group of people from both the university and external entrepreneurs and leaders to help guide the direction of the initiative.”

Stevens believes there is no better way to learn than by studying stories of those who have seen success within the entrepreneurial field.

“One of my goals is to ensure that additional local entrepreneurs are participating in the program,” Stevens said. “I find it of extreme importance to expose the students to individuals who have lived through it and walked the walk. Starting a company is easy, but being successful is more difficult."

Stevens graduated from the UK College of Architecture (now named the College of Design) and is an entrepreneur in the software and technology market. He owns a software company, ArchVision, which develops 3D graphics technology used in the architecture, engineering and construction markets.

Stevens taught part time at the UK College of Design, from 1991-2007.   He recently returned to academia to teach an undergraduate course titled "Intro to Entrepreneurship" in the Gatton College of Business and Economics and is active in the local entrepreneur community.

UK is the University for Kentucky. At UK, we are educating more students, treating more patients with complex illnesses and conducting more research and service than at any time in our 150-year history. To read more about the UK story and how you can support continued investment in your university and the Commonwealth, go to: uky.edu/uk4ky. #uk4ky #seeblue

MEDIA CONTACT:  Kathy Johnson, 859-257-3155