JPEC Staff
In 1996, John Pappajohn, president of Equity Dynamics, Inc. in Des Moines, Iowa, established five entrepreneurial centers throughout Iowa. Although each center defines its own mission and serves the state in a manner consistent with its particular strengths, each center has the same ultimate purpose: to enhance the effectiveness of Iowa's entrepreneurs. The primary mission of the UNI JPEC is two-fold: (1) student/faculty/staff entrepreneurship, and (2) technology transfer.
JPEC staff make numerous public appearances annually. These include speaking engagements on entrepreneurship, the programs of the Center, and specialized workshops/classes. If you are interested in having a JPEC staff member speak to your class or group, please contact Katherine at 319-273-JPEC (5732) or e-mail [email protected].
Program Associate
John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 319-273-5732
Bart Schmitz is the Program Associate of the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center. He is also the advisor for UNIEntrepreneurs, the JPEC's student organization of students interested in entrepreneurship. Bart provdies technical assistance to new student entrepreneurs to the JPEC's entrepreneurship programs. He teaches several K-12 Junior Achievement classes. Bart has a AA from Hawkeye Community College and a BA from UNI. He currently owns his own business in property management. He has extensive experience in retail, hospitality, events, and working with student populations. In his free time he is active in his church and is a 4-H leader.
T. Wayne Davis Entrepreneur-in-Residence
John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center
UNI College of Business Administration
Email : [email protected]
Education: M.B.A. University of Kansas 1996; B.A. (Accounting) University of Northern Iowa 1990.
Certifications: CPA 1991; CMA 1993.
Responsibilities: Founder and CEO of the development and general contracting firm, Cedar Valley Restoration and Development. The firm develops and constructs new architecturally appropriate housing and mixed-use structures as well as renovates existing homes preserving the historically significant architecture.
Professional Accomplishments: Mr. Deeds is an accounting, property management, and construction professional with more than fifteen years of experience progressing from big five public accounting to management for a Fortune 200 transportation company to CFO for a $250 million private real estate firm. He most recently founded and serves as CEO for a real estate development and general contracting firm. He has extensive experience in real estate finance, acccounting, and information systems. He directed the turn-around of a failing accounting and information services function while working in the senior housing industry. He also has extensive experience in Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and internal reporting and staff recruitment and management in addition to a solid background in employee benefit plan issues, accounting guidance evaluation and integration of merging companies' financial information.
Program Assistant/Market Researcher
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 319-273-5732
Soren can be reached at [email protected]
Kaylin can be reached at [email protected]
319-273-5732
Program Assistants for the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center handle research and accounting for client companies, as well as numerous projects and day-to-day activities for the Center.
Kaylin DiCicco is a junior marketing major. She is actively involved in Rider Hall and some student organizations. She is a member of UNI's Reaching for Higher Ground committee. Prior to coming to UNI she served in the miliarty and then attended a community college in Michigan. She aspires to be a VP of marketing for a large corporation.
Soren Hultman is a senior finance major from Iowa City. He is completing his Certificate in Entrepreneurship and enjoys the challenges of helping student entrepreneurs with their research.