The University of Tampa’s graduate program in real estate venturing was
recognized as the best of the Best New Programs in the Country by the
Small Business Institute® (SBI). The designation was made at the SBI
national conference held recently in San Diego.
According to
Dr. Dianne Welsh, Walter Distinguished Chair in Entrepreneurship and
the director of the UT Florida Entrepreneur & Family Business
Center, this graduate program is unique in that it combines
entrepreneurship, or venturing, with real estate in the same classes
throughout the four-course sequence.
“To our knowledge, this
is the only graduate level program in the country that matches
venturing with real estate,” Welsh said. “In other programs,
entrepreneurship is a separate elective if discussed at all.”
Thirty-three programs were entered from across the country.
The program was designed by Welsh with assistance from Dr. Bill Rhey,
UT dean of graduate studies; Dr. Joe McCann, director of the UT Center
for Leadership and former dean of UT’s John H. Sykes College of
Business; Stephen Meyers, president of Meyers and Co.; Dr. Jeff
Donaldson, UT professor of finance; and Larry Smith, attorney at law.
Also at the SBI conference a team of MBA students from The University
of Tampa won 3rd place in the graduate business plan category. Their
plan, titled “Steel Consulting Services,” was completed for local
entrepreneur Tony Mologne, who was awarded a $500,000 loan as a result
of the business plan.
The team consisted of Shaun Roberts, Amy
Memon, Jon Birkelund and Carl Reschke, and was led by Welsh, who won
the Showcase Award for the plan.