10-01-09

Innovative Lighting founder Handsaker will lead Pappajohn Center Entrepreneur Forums

AMES, Iowa - Jerry Handsaker -- an Iowa State University graduate who is founder and president of Innovative Lighting Inc. of Roland -- will be the featured speaker at the first of four ISU Pappajohn Center Entrepreneur Forums on Friday, Oct. 9.

Innovative Lighting has been recognized four times (2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005) by Inc. magazine as one of the nation's 500 fastest-growing, privately held companies. And Handsaker was named the 2004 Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young.

Handsaker's presentation is scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. in the Memorial Union Cardinal Room. He is the first of four guest speakers -- entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, consultants and business professionals -- who will share their experiences and discuss entrepreneurship with ISU students and other interested community members. The forums have been held on the ISU campus since 1997.

All the forums are free and open to the public and begin at noon. Other forums are scheduled for Dec. 18, Feb. 12 and Apr. 9. No reservations are necessary, and participants are welcome to bring their lunch.

"The Entrepreneur Forums are a great way to learn first-hand about the risks, challenges and successes of entrepreneurial ventures," said Judi Eyles, assistant director of ISU's Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship.

After graduating from Iowa State, Handsaker went on to law school and practiced law in Iowa for more than 20 years. During that time, he launched Innovative Lighting (http://www.innovativelight.com) and grew that company. In 1998, he left the practice of law to manage and operate Innovative Lighting full-time. Innovative Lighting designs and manufactures energy-efficient LED lighting products for the marine, truck and trailer, RV, and home and commercial lighting markets. The company has 120 employees.

"Jerry has first-hand experience in being an entrepreneur during turbulent economic times," Eyles said.

Additional information on the ISU Pappajohn Center Entrepreneur Forums is available online at: www.isupjcenter.org/programs/forums.

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