On May 7, 2011, the first Moot Corp Hall of Honor awards were presented to three individuals for their roles in the growth and development of the Moot Corp Competition, the first business plan competition.  Now in its 28th year, it is the premier global new venture competition today.

The honorees were Gary Cadenhead, Director of the Master of Science in Technology Commercialization Program at the University of Texas at Austin; Fred Kiesner, Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship at Loyola Marymount University, and Charles Hofer, Regents Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at Kennesaw State University.

Gary Cadenhead, Ph.D. – Remarks by  Randy Swangard,  Assistant Dean for External Programs at the Lundquist College of Business at the University of Oregon

In this year of transition from Moot Corp to Venture Labs, it is important than we reflect upon the efforts that got us to where we are today. The people, the decisions, the risks, and the sacrifices have had great results but have never been easy. We recognize tonight three individuals who were the trailblazers.

In 1992, Moot Corp was in need of a new director. Although it had progressed from its beginnings to then include eleven universities, Moot Corp was at a major juncture in its development—needing a new vision for growth and prosperity.

Gary Cadenhead was chosen to lead Moot Corp and lead is exactly what he did. Gary is a visionary, a proven leader, a great teacher and innovator. I am proud to know him and call him a friend.

His task was simple—transform Moot Corp into a globally relevant platform that would change the very concept of MBA/graduate experiential education as we knew it.
And, beginning in 1993, Gary—in slightly over 15 years— delivered—-big time—Moot Corp became the top Global Business Plan Competition in the world with over 40 teams from around the globe and dozens of affiliated competitions including Europe, South America and Asia.

It is ironic that he wrote a book entitled “No Longer Moot”. Designed to demonstrate the move from an academic driven business planning exercise to a competition focused on investment ready opportunities is now the norm and where we are today.

We are all in this room this evening in large measure because of Gary Cadenhead’s devotion to building on a dream. His dedication has had a ripple effect here at the University of Texas and across the globe. A true founder and pioneer— he provides inspiration to all of us on what can be accomplished when the goals are aspirational.

Fred Kiesner, Ph. D. – Remarks by Rob Warren, I.H. Asper Executive Director for Entrepreneurship from the Stu Clark Centre at the University of Manitoba

I’m here to recognize one of the leaders in entrepreneurship education.  A man who started teaching at a time when auto body repair received more respect on college campuses than the teaching of entrepreneurship.  During his career he has had three billionaires come through his class including one of the founders of Groupon.  He is also the envy of every center director I know because, through the generosity of one his graduates, the centre for entrepreneurship at his school is named for him.

Fred has been teaching entrepreneurship for over 40 years during which time he has helped hundreds of students launch their dreams, in areas ranging from consumer products to medical devices.  Fred has also travelled the world to bring the concept of entrepreneurship to both developed and developing countries.  He’s taught entrepreneurship in Ireland and Vietnam and he introduced the Russian people to the idea of concept by establishing a school focused on the topic.  Fred has been active in the field of entrepreneurship by serving as president of USASBE and taking an active role in the International Council of Small Business.

On a personal note, Fred was one of the first people that I met when I started teaching at Manitoba.  His counsel and guidance are directly responsible for the quality of the program we have at Manitoba.

Charles Hofer, Ph.D.  – Remarks by Van G.H. Clouse, Director Forcht Center for Entrepreneurship at the College of Business at the University of Louisville

Dr. Charles Hofer has mentored numerous business plan competition teams at both Kennesaw State University and the University of Georgia, winning many competitions multiple times including Venture Labs Investment Competition formerly known as Global Moot Corp.

Prior to Kennesaw, Dr. Hofer taught at Northwestern, Stanford, Columbia, NYU, and Georgia. He received a B.S. in theoretical physics (summa cum laude) from Lehigh University, an M.S. in applied mathematics from Harvard University, and an M.B.A. in marketing (with distinction) and a D.B.A. in business policy both from the Harvard Business School.

Dr. Hofer is ranked as one of the most influential scholars in the fields of Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship. He has received numerous awards during his distinguished career.

In 2007, Dr. Hofer was named one of the Top 18 Entrepreneurship Professors in the U.S. by Fortune Small Business magazine. In 2000, he won the USASBE National Award for Outstanding Entrepreneurship Education Pedagogy. In 1999, he won the Advocate Award given by the Academy of Management for Lifetime Contributions to the Development of the Field of Entrepreneurship.

Dr Hofer also won the Academy of Management’s first Coleman Entrepreneurship Mentor Award for his contributions to the development of Ph.D. students in the field of Entrepreneurship.

I have known Chuck for more than 14 years, and have learned much from him.  Our University of Louisville teams have competed with his teams on numerous occasions. While he always wants to win, he is very generous in helping other teams and their coaches improve their business plans and presentations.

An article published in Inc. Magazine in 2003 described Chuck as follows (and I quote): “Dr. Hofer is the Bobby Bowden of college business plan competitions. He is ultracompetitive, intense, respected, and in the mix every year. He coaches his teams to win, and they ooze confidence.”

The awards were presented during the Awards Reception at the conclusion of the 2011 Global Venture Labs Investment Competition in Austin. Started at The University of Texas at Austin by Master of Business Administration students in 1984, the Venture Labs Investment Competition (formerly Moot Corp) is the oldest new venture competition