Smith To Deliver Presidential Lecture on Nov. 11

TROY, N.Y. — Frederick W. Smith, chairman, president, and CEO of FedEx Corporation, has been named the 2004 William F. Glaser ’53 Rensselaer Entrepreneur of the Year. Smith will deliver a presidential lecture titled “Challenges of Businesses Competing in the Global Marketplace,” on Thursday, Nov. 11 at 3:30 p.m. at the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies on the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute campus.

The event, which is open to the public, will include a networking reception at 4:30 p.m., following Smith’s presentation. Smith also is participating in a roundtable discussion with undergraduate and graduate students during his visit to Rensselaer. Smith will be honored by the Paul J. ’69 and Kathleen M. Severino Center for Technological Entrepreneurship in Rensselaer’s Lally School of Management and Technology at a private celebratory dinner the evening of  Nov. 11.

“We teach our students to push beyond traditional academic boundaries and to seek new knowledge at the intersections of technology and the arts, science and culture, research and policy, innovation and business,” said Rensselaer President Shirley Ann Jackson. “Fred Smith has a keen understanding of the importance of seeking and applying new knowledge, which is evident in his company that has built swift and reliable connections across the globe.”

Smith leads FedEx Corporation, a $28 billion global transportation and logistics company founded in 1971. FedEx began as a classroom idea while Smith was an undergraduate at Yale University. The corporation’s operating companies handle more than five million shipments every day. Smith is the former chairman of the Board of Governors for the International Air Transport Association and the U.S. Air Transport Association. He is a member of the boards of the Business Roundtable, Business Council, CATO Institute, and Mayo Foundation. He served as chairman of the U.S.-China Business Council and is the current chairman of the U.S.-France Business Council. Smith was named Chief Executive magazine’s 2004 “CEO of the Year.” Business Week recently included Smith in its profiles of the greatest innovators of the past 75 years.

Established in 1990, the William F. Glaser ’53 Rensselaer Entrepreneur of the Year Award brings the world of entrepreneurship into Rensselaer classrooms by recognizing successful entrepreneurs and role models who share their wisdom and experiences with students. Past winners include James Crowe ’72, CEO of Level 3 Communications; John J. McDonnell ’61, founder, chairman, and CEO of Transaction Network Services; Paul Severino ’69, founder and chairman of Bay Networks; Mukesh Chatter ’82, founder, president, and CEO of Axiowave Networks; and William Mow ’59, founder of Bugle Boy Industries.

Streaming video of the Entrepreneur of the Year Celebration

Contact: Theresa Bourgeois
Phone: (518) 276-2840
E-mail: bourgt@rpi.edu