Mike Ilitch School of Business announces Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hall of Fame “Class of 2021”
The Wayne State University Mike Ilitch School of Business has announced the 2021 class of inductees into its Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hall of Fame.
The inductees are:
- Krish Panu, co-founder and managing director, PointGuard Ventures
- Raj Vattikuti, chairman and CEO, Altimetrik
- Carla Walker-Miller, president and CEO, Walker-Miller Energy Services
This year’s inductees, along with the Class of 2020, will be honored at an invitation-only reception on Friday, Oct. 15. They will also be added to the permanent display on the first floor of the Ilitch School.
Established by Dean Robert Forsythe in 2019, the Mike Ilitch School of Business Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hall of Fame honors individuals who exhibit the vision, resilience and determination to develop and strengthen ventures which contribute to the health and prosperity of our economy and society. The EI Hall of Fame is a program that came out of the Ilitch School’s Belinsky Entrepreneurship Learning Laboratory (BELL), which was created in 2018 thanks to a generous gift from alumnus Russell Belinsky and the Belinsky Family Trust.
Consideration for induction is open to those – regardless of previous affiliation with the Ilitch School or Wayne State University – who meet one or both of the following criteria:
Lifetime Achievement: This individual exemplifies the vision, determination, ability to persevere in uncertain conditions, and the leadership required to achieve success. Others have been inspired through their example and they have made a significant, lasting and positive impact through their actions.
Entrepreneurial Impact: This individual has made a substantial impact on the vitality of our economy and/or quality of life in our region in one of the following ways: introduction and growth of a significant innovation or new venture; introduction and growth of a social enterprise; leadership in the creation or growth of a vital entrepreneurial support organization or non-profit organization.
“The ability to embrace opportunities and overcome challenges is what the entrepreneurial mindset is all about,” said Ilitch School Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programs Jeff Stoltman. “When students learn the backstory about each of these amazing entrepreneurs and the unique path they each followed, they will be inspired to see the possibilities for themselves.”
