KENT, Ohio – The Kent State College of Business Administration announces Electric Components International (ECI) President and CEO David Webster ’85 as the featured Fall 2019 Michael D. Solomon Entrepreneurship Speaker. Webster will speak on “Building a Global Business.” ECI, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, employs more than 20,000 people with locations now spanning over 15 countries in North America, South America, Europe, Africa and Asia.
The event will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 29 at the Kent State Hotel and Conference Center. The event is free and open to the public.
Webster graduated summa cum laude from Kent State in 1985 with a degree in finance and earned a juris doctorate degree order of the coif from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
Webster became a partner at Mills & Partners, a management firm dedicated to sourcing, management and operation of private equity investments exclusively for Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst Incorporated. In 2001, he became the co-founder of Hanley Partners Inc. At Mills & Partners and Hanley Partners, Inc., he was responsible for sourcing, negotiating and executing more than $5 billion of leveraged buyout and private equity transactions. As a partner at Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst Incorporated, he has held ownership interests and served on the board of directors in a number of companies.
Webster has participated in more than $30 billion mergers and acquisition transactions.
Webster joined Electrical Components International, the leading provider of wire harnesses and subassemblies in North America, in 1997. He now serves as President and CEO of the company. He also serves on the College of Business Administration’s National Advisory Board.
“We are pleased to welcome Dave Webster back to Kent State to share his success story,” said Deborah F. Spake, Dean of Kent State’s College of Business Administration. “His vast knowledge in international business will provide a great learning opportunity for Kent State students and community members in attendance.”
The Michael D. Solomon Entrepreneurship Speaker Series brings experienced entrepreneurs to campus each semester to share their story and professional insights with students and community members. This endowed program is supported by Kent State College of Business Administration alumnus Michael D. Solomon.
Kent State College of Business Administration
Kent State University’s College of Business Administration is among the fewer than 1% of business schools worldwide to obtain dual AACSB accreditation in both business and accounting.
The Kent State College of Business Administration ranks as one of the nation’s Best Business Schools by Princeton Review. The College is committed to sustainability as an advanced Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) signatory and is recognized by the Sales Education Foundation as a top university for professional sales education.
Media Contacts:
Joni Bowen, jbowen1@kent.edu, 330-672-1279