Prominent business leader Mark Willes and his wife, Laura, were honored by Brigham Young University Hawaii with the renaming of the Business School's Mark and Laura Willes Center for International Entrepreneurship at a commemorative dinner September 1. As part of the nation's most internationally diverse campus, the Willes' Center emphasizes the creation of businesses in developing economies.
"We're so grateful for this honor, but we don't claim it as our own," Willes said at the ceremony. "We understand what type of name-association this gives the center, but what's more important is that we understand deep in our hearts that every blessing we have comes from God."
Laura Willes added, "We are humbled that you would see fit to honor us in this way, and grateful to hitch our wagon to this star."
As recently as a year ago, in June 2004, the Willes' were living just 35miles south of the BYU-Hawaii campus, presiding over the Honolulu Hawaii Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mark Willes' Seasider connection runs deep as he currently sits as Chairman of the Board for the Polynesian Cultural Center and Chair of the President's Leadership Council, which serves as the fundraising arm for the PCC and the Willes Center.
President Eric Shumway shared words of gratitude for the Willes' and their willingness to endow the center with their name.
"If we were to carefully search for a couple whose love, vision, and international interests were to most closely approximate those qualities of [university founder] David O. McKay, we could not find anyone better than Mark and Laura Willes," Shumway said.
Brent Wilson, Dean of the School of Business, added, "We are at a pivotal point in our relatively new program, and adding the Willes name validates what we're trying to accomplish. Our students are utilizing the resources from this center to help start their businesses back home, and it's working."
The entrepreneur center program was initiated during the mid-90s, but has recently created its three-fold mission of entrepreneur education, building a mentoring network and running business plan competitions. Greg Gibson, Director of the Willes Center, joined the BYU-Hawaii staff in 2002. Since then, he has been developing a business model focused on helping students learn how to start successful businesses back in their native countries.
"Our goal is that each graduate will have an enlarged vision of what he or she can accomplish and the courage and confidence necessary to generate a successful life through entrepreneurship," he said. "When one student sees another accomplish this, that student believes that he or she will be able to do the same. That is the type of legacy we're trying to create."
Mark Willes retired as chairman, president and chief executive officer of Times Mirror in April, 2000. In addition, he served as publisher of the Los Angeles Times from October 1997 to June 1999. He also served as president and chief operating officer of General Mills, Inc., and president of the Federal Reserve Bank, both located in Minneapolis, MN. He began his career as an assistant professor of finance at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
"The Willes name raises the visibility of the center, giving us a certain responsibility, "said Dean Wilson. "We give our commitment to operate in such a way that we can say to you that we have never done anything with your name" that would cause them to be ashamed, he added.