Emerging Business Services announces support for Dr. Mark Hoelscher’s candidacy for the Dean of the College of Business at Illinois State University.

Recommendation:

Emerging Business Services LLC, is proud to recommend, without any reservation, Dr. Mark Hoelscher for the position of Dean for the College of Business at Illinois State University. The purpose of this letter is to not only make the unsolicited recommendation to have Dr. Mark Hoelscher considered as Dean of the College of Business, but also to provide a brief synopsis of the basis and rational for the recommendation.

Emerging Business Services, the local business community, and many others obviously have the vibrancy of the local business community as a foremost concern as well as the vibrancy of College of Business at Illinois State University as it produces our future generations of business leaders and entrepreneurs.

Below is the basis for the recommendation. Please note, the reasons listed are done so in no particular order.  All reasons listed are to be considered of equal and critical importance regardless of their order of appearance. In addition, the reasons listed are a few of many, that could be listed and are not intended to be an exhaustive list.

Finally, although this recommendation is summarized in written form on five pages (the original draft was fifteen pages), Emerging Business Services would be thrilled to explain in person, and at length, the importance of this recommendation, the potential financial impact on the Bloomington and Normal business community, and the potential financial impact on the Illinois State University. In short, Emerging Business Services believes that it is critical to get this appointment correct as the impact will be felt by all for years.   Contact information is provided at the conclusion of this letter.

Basis for Recommendation:

1) Dr. Mark Hoelscher has been instrumental in the development of the future of the Bloomington and Normal business community through his vision and ongoing commitment to the start-up and emerging company community. This commitment is benefiting not only the students and graduates of the College of Business but also our local business community as well.

Emerging Business Services and numerous partners have been engaged in a multi-year endeavor to recast the economic and financial landscape of Bloomington Normal around a vibrant start up and emerging company community. During this endeavor, few partners in the education community have comprehended the importance and facilitated its development as much as Dr. Mark Hoelscher. Certainly, none have supported it as openly, enthusiastically and with authentic and genuine concern as Dr. Mark Hoelscher. Emerging Business Services believes the development of the start up and emerging company community can have significant long-term positive economic impact not only for Bloomington and Normal, but also for the Illinois State University as well. This impact could revolutionize our communities as well as the status of the College of Business at the Illinois State University. Having high-integrity leaders who understand the importance of this community as Dr. Hoelscher has shown is critical to recognizing its full potential.

To recognize this importance and facilitate the development of the start up and emerging company community has required and proven Dr. Mark Hoelscher to have extraordinary vision and insight, and therefore he should be given the opportunity to serve as Dean of the College of Business. Given the long term nature of the development of this area, and the fact that this community is just beginning to emerge and the benefits of Dr. Hoelscher’s endeavors not fully realized, the contributions by Dr. Hoelscher could be easily overlooked. Emerging Business Services believes that it is particularly situated to understand the importance of Dr. Hoelscher’s contributions and commitment to this area over the past number of years and has found them critical and vital to its success.

Emerging Business Services believes as the start up and emerging company community begins to unfold over the next decade, the wisdom and insight of Dr. Hoelscher’s commitment to this area will be fully realized by all.

2) Dr Hoelscher is highly focused on others. This attribute is key to the success of both business and educational leaders. Dr. Hoelscher is highly respected and regarded for this attribute. This attribute makes Dr. Hoelscher particularly suited to lead the College of Business as Dean.

Emerging Business Services believes the ability to focus on others and their needs is a critical skill for success. In business today, this skill is rare. In business or education, when the phenomenon of focusing on others occurs, one should pause to consider it. Good business and educational leaders realize focusing on others immediately precedes the movement of value.

Few business leaders recognize the importance of this skill, apply it, and/or master it. The same challenge exists for educational leaders. Dr. Mark Hoelscher has demonstrated that he has mastered this skill and is highly regarded in both the education and the business community for it. As the model of education continues to evolve becoming ever more subject to market forces, this skill will be most critical (if not “the most” critical skill) for the Dean of the College of Business at the Illinois State University to have.

Dr. Hoelscher’s focus on others is evident not only in how he conducts himself, but also throughout his current organization. In brief, two ways Dr. Hoelscher’s ability to focus on other people has manifested itself in his current organization are:

1.)   His organization’s focus on women entrepreneurs. This group of entrepreneurs are often easy overlooked in educational circles due to low enrollment rates.

2.)  His organization’s focus on artisan entrepreneurs (entrepreneurs who most likely will only be a one-person entity). Again, a group of entrepreneurs frequently overlooked.

In short, to press and lead an organization to focus on often overlooked customers against a backdrop of limited resources highlights Dr. Hoelscher’s ability to focus on others as well as his ability to get an organization to focus on others.

Another example of Dr. Mark Hoelscher’s ability to focus on others is shown in his organization’s focus on the business community of Bloomington and Normal. In short, the local business community needs this attribute in the next leader of the College of Business at Illinois State University, as the business community views itself as one of the primary customers of the Illinois State University College of Business.

It is the mastering of this skill, more than any other, that makes Dr. Hoelscher particularly suited to lead the College of Business at Illinois State University. Clearly, we believe Dr. Hoelscher should have the opportunity to imprint the entire College of Business at the Illinois State University with this attribute.

3) The thought leaders of business and the business education community have coalesced behind Dr. Mark Hoelscher. This fact makes Dr. Mark Hoelscher particularly empowered to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Illinois State University College of Business.

In business, one of the most effective ways one may evaluate one’s own success is to measure the quality of the individuals and leaders that are coalescing behind you.  Emerging Business Services believes that the thought leaders of business and business education community have coalesced behind Dr. Mark Hoelscher. The importance of this dynamic may or may not be seen and/or understood easily within the education community, but the business community is particularly adept at discerning and appreciating it. Discerning it communicates not only what is going to happen, but also why it is going to happen and who is going to do it. This is very valuable information in both business and education.

For the sake of brevity of this recommendation, Emerging Business Services would be open to discussing this leadership dynamic of Dr. Mark Hoelscher among thought leaders in business and education and how it is currently benefiting the Means Center at Illinois State University and how it will benefit the College of Business at the Illinois State University in the future should Dr. Mark Hoelscher be installed as Dean of the College of Business.

4) Dr Mark Hoelscher has the full and unparalleled support of his family (Mrs. Sharon Hoelscher) which allows Dr. Mark Hoelscher to pursue his true passion: the furthering of business education at the Illinois State University College of Business.

The pursuit of one’s passion in life can be very divisive if not fully understood and supported by one’s support structure (family). Mrs. Hoelscher has demonstrated her unparalleled commitment to support Dr. Mark Hoelscher in his pursuit of his passion which is the furthering of business education at the Illinois State University. This remarkable and rare level of support has an exponential effect on the effectiveness as well as the scope of work performed by Dr. Mark Hoelscher. This dynamic is noticed, appreciated and highly valued by all. The dynamic is such a powerful complement to Dr. Hoelscher’s work, we would be remiss if we did not list this as a basis for Dr. Hoelscher’s recommendation for the Dean position at the Illinois State University College of Business.

5) Dr. Mark Hoelscher is genuinely and authentically concerned about the following: The current public education system in the State of Illinois is placing unsustainable stress on both the finances of the State of Illinois and on its citizens. This genuine and authentic concern is coupled with knowledge and vision to address the issue in a meaningful and revolutionary way. Emerging Business Services believes that Dr. Hoelscher’s knowledge and vision if fully implemented will serve as a model for business education at the collegiate level for the future. Dr. Hoelscher should be given the opportunity to implement his vision as the Dean for the College of Business at the Illinois State University.

It is the responsibility of leaders to define reality. Unfortunately there is no workable political or financial solution to the educational funding crises in the State of Illinois. As businesses and individuals reallocate resources outside the state of Illinois, fewer resources will be available through traditional public channels for higher education. The education community needs leaders like Dr Hoelscher who understand this dynamic and are not afraid to define reality for the organizations and individuals they serve and lead. No real progress can be made in any organization until reality is defined and addressed. This clarity provided by Dr. Hoelscher allows for optimism and even serves as a cause of celebration as there is no need to labor under a delusion. The responsibility he has taken on to define reality has allowed his current organization to be honest, optimistic and focused on building the future. These attributes overlaid against an approach of being totally focused on others makes Dr. Hoelscher an exceptional educational leader.

Emerging Business Services believes Dr. Hoelscher has the knowledge and vision to address the financial issue facing public education and transition the College of Business of Illinois State University off a dependency of public monies. While a full discussion of Dr. Hoelscher’s vision of higher education for the College of Business is beyond the scope of this recommendation, Emerging Business Services would be open to discussing at length how Dr. Hoelscher’s vision would recast the business educational landscape of the College of Business at Illinois State University and how it will benefit the College of Business at the Illinois State University in the future should Dr. Mark Hoelscher be installed as Dean of the College of Business.

6) The long-term potential financial impact of Dr. Hoelscher’s serving as Dean for the College of Business should be very carefully considered, fully understood and certainly not overlooked. Emerging Business Services believes that no other individual has the potential as Dean of the College of Business to have a more meaningful financial impact on the Illinois State University than Dr. Mark Hoelscher.

The antecedent goodwill that Dr. Mark Hoelscher has accreted in the business and education community will serve him and the institutions he serves well throughout the balance of his career.

How does this antecedent goodwill accreted by Dr. Mark Hoelscher translate into financial support for the College of Business at the Illinois State University?

Should Dr. Hoelscher be installed as the Dean of the College of Business, Emerging Business Services would be thrilled to discuss the formation of a private foundation for the College of Business at the Illinois State University. With proper board approval from the required entities, participation from certain key individuals, and subject to other conditions that are beyond the scope of this recommendation, Emerging Business Services would consider seeding the foundation with 200,000 shares of internrocket.com.

Although the current market value of internrocket.com stock is highly speculative given the early development stage of the company (its current stated value is approx. $.10 per share), Emerging Business Services believes in its long term potential.  Emerging Business Services has set a minimum exit price for its shares of $40, and is currently targeting a long term value in the $80-$140 range.

What is important for purposes of this recommendation is not the long term valuation of the 200,000 shares of internrocket.com stock (potentially $0, $20,000, $8,000,000 or $16,000,000+) that would be given to the foundation, but this:  Dr. Hoelscher is at the epicenter of a community that appreciates his attributes as a leader and educator and places an extremely high value on his vision.  This community will develop dozens and potentially 100’s of companies that could seed the foundation in the future.

This community places an extremely high value on Dr. Mark Hoelscher’s approach and vision for education at the College of Business at the Illinois State University. Therefore, Emerging Business Services believes that no other individual has the potential as Dean of the College of Business to have a more meaningful financial impact on the Illinois State University than Dr. Mark Hoelscher.

Conclusion:

Emerging Business Services is proud to recommend Dr. Mark Hoelscher for the position of Dean at the Illinois State University.  Thank you for the consideration of this recommendation.  If there are any questions or comments regarding this recommendation, or should the Illinois State University wish to discuss the recommendation, please Contact Us.