In our latest issue of Kaizen we feature an interview with Judy Estrin, CEO of JLabs, co-founder of seven technology companies, and author of Closing the Innovation Gap.

In this issue we also feature guest speakers Joshua Hall and Jerry Kirkpatrick and student essay contest winners Erin Filak, Kristy Luck, and Elliot Welsh.

A PDF version of Kaizen is available here. We will soon post separately the full interview with Ms. Estrin.

If you would like to receive a complimentary issue of the print version of Kaizen, please email your name and postal address to CEE [at] Rockford.edu.

The Mercatus Institute, “a university-based research center [that] works to advance knowledge about how markets work to improve our lives,” has a web page devoted to research on Hurricane Katrina. Questions explored by the Mercatus researchers include: How did New Orleans communities that have recovered since Katrina do so? What effect did social entrepreneurship have on their recovery? What kinds of government policies could facilitate a quicker recovery from future disasters? Among the experts featured are two CEE Guest Speakers, Emily Chamlee-Wright and Steven Horwitz.

Watch our video interview with Dr. Chamlee-Wright in which she talks about her research on some of the above issues.

Also, watch our interview with Dr. Horwitz on the role of Wal-Mart in New Orleans’ recovery.

Finally, explore Mercatus’ fascinating website here.

The Center for Ethics and Entrepreneurship has invited four interesting guest speakers to Rockford College this semester:

Roberto Salinas León: Education, Philosophy, and Business in the US and Mexico

March 3

Dr. Salinas Leon is President and CEO of the Mexico Business Forum in Mexico City, Mexico, Professor in the Department of Economics at the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM), and weekly columnist for El Economista. He received his Ph.D. in Philosophy and Political Theory from Purdue University.

William Kline: David Hume and Ethics

March 17

Dr. William Kline is Assistant Professor of Liberal Studies at University of Illinois, Springfield. He received his Ph.D. in Philosophy from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. He has published in the Journal of Value Inquiry and the Journal of Business Ethics.

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Jeffrey P. Orduno: Property Rights and the Law

March 30

Jeffrey Orduno is an associate in the law firm of McGreevy Williams. He is a Rockford College alum and received his JD from John Marshall Law School. His practice includes business litigation and transactions, as well as matters related to land use and construction.

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Douglas B. Rasmussen: Aristotle and Contemporary Ethics

April  23 & 26

Dr. Douglas Rasmussen is professor of philosophy at St. John’s University in New York. He received his Ph.D. in Philosophy at Marquette University. Dr. Rasmussen has authored numerous articles in a variety of journals and is coauthor (with Douglas J. Den Uyl) of Norms of Liberty: A Perfectionist Basis for Non-Perfectionist Politics (2005).

All who are interested may attend. We hope to see you there!

Also, view the PDF of our flyer.

Locations and exact times forthcoming.

For more information, contact CEE [at] Rockford.edu

Anja Hartleb-Parson, CEE’s Research & Publications Manager, talks with Fall 2009 guest speaker Joshua Hall about his presentation on “The Dilemma of School Finance Reform.” Professor Hall explains why we are spending more on public education over time but may not be getting our money’s worth. Watch the video below.

Dr. Stephen Hicks, CEE’s Executive Director, talks with Dr. Jerry Kirkpatrick, a Fall 2009 CEE guest speaker, about his book, In Defense of Advertising. Dr. Kirkpatrick addresses several typical criticisms of advertising and explains why advertising is important to a healthy, productive capitalist society.

Watch Parts I & II of the interview below.

Part I:

Dr. Stephen Hicks, CEE’s Executive Director, talks with Fall 2009 guest speaker Dr. Jerry Kirkpatrick about his recent book, “Montessori, Dewey, and Capitalism”. Dr. Kirkpatrick compares and contrasts the educational philosophies and methods of John Dewey and Maria Montessori, and discusses the potential benefits of such methods in a capitalist society.

Below is a two-part interview wherein CEE’s Executive Director, Dr. Stephen Hicks, talks with Fall 2009 Guest Speaker Timothy Sandefur about the contrasting views of the Progressives and the Founding Fathers on liberty and human rights, how the Progressive agenda has led to an increase in political entrepreneurship, and philosophy’s role in stimulating positive changes in our political system.

Part I:

Part II:

The Center for Ethics and Entrepreneurship is proud to announce its guest speakers for Fall 2009:

Timothy Sandefur

“Market Entrepreneurs and Political Entrepreneurs: Some Legal and Constitutional Issues”

September 16, 6 pm, SCAR 220

Timothy Sandefur is a Senior Staff Attorney at the Pacific Legal Foundation, a public interest law firm based in Sacramento, California. He is the author of Cornerstone of Liberty: Property Rights in 21st Century America and has written for The San Francisco Chronicle.

Jerry Kirkpatrick

“The Importance of Philosophy to a Successful Business Career”

October 27, 6 pm, SCAR 204

“Montessori and Dewey as Educational Philosophers”

October 28, 6 pm, STARR 223

Jerry Kirkpatrick is Professor of International Business & Marketing at California State Polytechnic University. He is the author of In Defense of Advertising and a book on educational philosophy and public policy: Montessori, Dewey, and Capitalism.

Joshua Hall

“The Dilemma of School Finance Reform”

October 13, 6 pm, Grace Roper Lounge

November 11, 6 pm, STARR 223

Joshua Hall is Assistant Professor of Economics at Beloit College. His articles have appeared in such publications as the Journal of Social, Political, and Economic Studies, the Journal of Economics and Politics, and The Independent Review.

Also, click here to view the PDF of our flyer.

The latest issue of Kaizen features our interview with Steve Mariotti, founder of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), an organization dedicated to providing entrepreneurship education to low-income youths.

Also featured in Kaizen are CEE guest speakers David Mayer and C. Bradley Thompson, an interview with Steve Kadamian on his entrepreneurship course, and a report on the 2009 High School Entrepreneur Day.

A PDF version of Kaizen is available here. We will soon post separately the full interview with Mr. Mariotti.

If you would like to receive a complimentary issue of the print version of Kaizen, please email your name and postal address to CEE [at] Rockford.edu.

Below is a two-part interview of CEE’s executive director Dr. Stephen Hicks with Spring 2009 CEE guest speaker Dr. David Mayer about his forthcoming book, entitled “Freedom’s Constitution,” which focuses on his libertarian interpretation of the U.S. Constitution.

Part I

Part II