This morning UW-Green Bay and the UW System announced the addition of Noodles & Company founder and former Chairman/CEO, Aaron Kennedy, to the TitletownTech leadership team. Kennedy was named Entrepreneur-in-Residence by UW-Green Bay Chancellor, Gary L. Miller, effective immediately. Below are Chancellor Miller’s remarks:
“I am very excited to be here this morning representing both the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and the University of Wisconsin System. I bring greetings and good wishes from President Ray Cross, President of the UW System.
The thirteen campuses of the University of Wisconsin System including the flagship campus at Madison and the Urban research campus at Milwaukee represents one of the world’s most important sources of creativity, innovation and invention.
The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, the higher education partner of the Green Bay Packers, is a rapidly expanding four campus university with sites in Sheboygan, Manitowoc and Marinette in addition to the main campus in Green Bay. We operate in three major manufacturing hubs, within a rich health care sector and along 400 miles of coast line on the world’s largest freshwater ecosystem. The programs in our Richard J. Resch School of Engineering, the Austin E. Cofrin School of Business and in our four academic colleges are aligned with the dynamic economy and workforce imperatives of Northeast Wisconsin.
From the beginning of Title Town and with the emergence of TitleTownTech is has been clear that we needed to find some way to focus the great creative power of UW-Green Bay and the UW System in support of the emerging entrepreneurial ecosystem in Northeast Wisconsin.
To accomplish this, President Cross and I proposed to Ed and Mark and Craig the establishment of the UW-Green Bay, UW System Entrepreneur-in-Residence. This would be an established entrepreneur with an international reach who would not only bring their expertise to the endeavor but work to connect TitleTownTech to the resources of the UW System and UW-Green Bay
I am very excited to announce this morning that our search for the EIR has been successful.
It is my great pleasure now to introduce the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and the UW System Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Mr. Aaron Kennedy.
Aaron founded Noodles and Company in 1995. At the time he left the company as CEO and Chairman in 2008, the company operated in 170 locations in 15 states. Prior to starting Noodles and Company, Aaron worked for a brand design firm in New York where he managed projects for some of the largest consumer brands including Coke-Cola, Burger King, Sears, Swiss Army Products, The Limited family of stores and the PGA world golf hall of fame.
He serves on the board of Sartori Cheese in Plymouth, Wisconsin, Sterling Rice Group and Modern Market Eatery. He has served as an advisor to Silver Oak Winery, Mad Greens, Maria Empanada, Napa Valley Venters Association and 34 degree crackers. He has also served as a mentor and advisor for Colorado business accelerators like Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network, Broomtown and MergeLane. Aaron has been named Entrepreneur of the year by Ernst and Young.
Aaron also served for several years as the chief marketing officer for the State of Colorado. Aaron holds a bachelors degree in Journalism and English from Augustana College and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin Business School.
He currently serves on the board of the University of Wisconsin Business School and is a frequent guest lecturer at universities around the country.
As of Monday Aaron is an employee of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay reporting to me with an appointment in our Austin E. Corfin School of Business. He will serve as executive on loan to TitleTownTech and to Craig’s leadership team representing UW-Green Bay and the UW System in this very exciting new venture in Green Bay.
I want to extend a warm UW Phoenix welcome to Aaron Kennedy. On behalf of everyone at UW-Green Bay and throughout the UW System we look forward to the energy and creativity you will bring to this very exciting endeavor.”