The Search for Great Ideas: Harnessing creativity to empower innovation.

Ken Szymusiak

Managing Director, Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Broad College of Business

Ken Szymusiak is Managing Director of the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (IEI) at the Broad College of Business at Michigan State University. The IEI is charged with developing and supporting entrepreneurship within the student body of Michigan State University through the development of curriculum, events, and entrepreneurial support structures. Additionally, Ken teaches coursework focused on entrepreneurial mindset, small business creation and management, and business model development. Ken also serves as Director of the Hive, an innovative student “idea laboratory” where he mentors students in moving business concepts from idea to market. He also serves as faculty advisor for the MSU Entrepreneurship Association and MSU Design for America student groups. Prior to joining MSU, Ken served as Co-Director of the New Economy Division at the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) where he co-managed a technology focused business incubator and worked to develop a culture of entrepreneurship in the greater Lansing region. Ken has been a leader in the development of Lansing Startup Weekends, “The Hatching” - Business Pitch Competition, and the Greater Lansing Entrepreneurship Boot Camp. Ken received his MBA from Northwood University and his Bachelors in Urban and Regional Planning from Michigan State University. In 2014, Ken and his wife, Kristin, sold his wife’s retail business after eight successful years and are now in the process of creating a new venture at this time.

Forrest S. Carter

Associate Professor, Faculty Director of Institute of Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Marketing

Dr. Carter is currently an Associate Professor of Marketing in the Eli Broad School of Business at Michigan State University; where he teaches courses in marketing research, marketing strategy, and entrepreneurship. He is also the Faculty Director of the college’s Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Dr. Carter has authored numerous articles and publications in the areas of marketing research, macro-marketing, and entrepreneurship. Over the last decade his interests have focused on marketing’s role in economic development, especially as it relates to women and minorities. Currently his research and outreach efforts focus on creating corporate and community environments that are conducive to innovation and entrepreneurial startups. He has also been a consultant with numerous corporate organizations, and owned and worked with several small businesses.

David Wheeler

Creative Research Faculty, The Hub for Innovation

Media and Information

David is the Director of Media Sandbox at Michigan State University. After graduating with Honors from The London Film School in the UK, he was brought to Los Angeles by CBS where he worked in Broadcast Journalism, Film, Television and TV Commercials as a writer, director and cinematographer. He directed his first video game, the 11th Hour in 1995 and has since made many video games and interactive movies including the ground breaking Tender Loving Care with the great British actor John Hurt. David was the Content Director for game publisher Vivendi/Universal and Senior Creative Director at Electronic Arts. He has founded/co-founded Terra Nova Productions in Hollywood, Aftermath Media in Ashland, Oregon and Digital Circus in Vancouver, Canada. In 2012 he formed his 4th media company, Here And Now Transmedia, in Los Angeles. David came to Michigan State University to head up Media Sandbox in November, 2013.