SDSU's Entrepreneurial Management Center Recruits Marketing Executive Bernhard Schroeder as Director.

Former Partner of Global Marketing Agency to Drive EMC Entrepreneurial Programs

SAN DIEGO -- Bernhard Schroeder, Partner and former General Manager of CKS|Partners has joined the Entrepreneurial Management Center (EMC) at San Diego State University College of Business Administration (CBA), the center announced today. Schroeder is also a marketing lecturer at SDSU.

Schroeder joined CKS|Partners in 1991 when it had only 35 employees and $4.9 million in revenue; he helped take the firm public on the NASDAQ in 1995 and then sold the firm in 1997 for more than $540 million. CKS|Partners has been recognized as the world's leading integrated marketing communications agency and was one of the fastest growing marketing agencies in the world during the 1990's.

Executive Director of the EMC, Dr. Sanford Ehrlich said, "Bernhard is a rare individual having had success on the entrepreneurial side of business and also in teaching in the SDSU College of Business. He understands both sides of the entrepreneurial spectrum and the EMC will benefit from his insights and experience. In addition to assisting the EMC with overall marketing and strategy, he will drive the new undergraduate entrepreneur Lavin Venture Start Program, grow the Emerging Growth Workshop and expand the Qualcomm Social Entrepreneurship MBA internship program. He is a welcome addition to the EMC and to the SDSU College of Business."

Since moving to San Diego in 1999, he has specialized in working with board members and venture capitalists in either growth or turnaround opportunities with several companies, first as a Senior Vice President with Nicholas-Applegate and then as Chief Marketing Officer with Stellcom, a local wireless technology company. In less than 16 months, he completed a successful turnaround of the mutual fund division and it was sold for more than $100 million. In a little less than three years, Stellcom was successfully sold to a company on the NASDAQ for more than $114 million. Prior to moving to San Diego, Bernhard was a Senior Partner and General Manager in the worlds largest integrated marketing communications agency, CKS Partners. He has had experience working with Fortune 100 firms like Apple, Nike, General Motors, American Express, Nikon, Kellogg's and others as well as start-up companies. He was involved in the initial branding and marketing launches for companies like Yahoo!, Amazon, ESPN, Corbis and Travelocity. Prior to CKS Partners, Bernhard worked with leading direct mail and database marketing agencies helping them grow significantly.

"I feel honored and privileged to accept the director position within the EMC," said Schroeder. "I look forward to working with EMC board members, SDSU faculty and staff and community executives to drive one of the leading entrepreneurial management centers in the country to attain even higher levels of distinction and service. Helping to support and/or create the future entrepreneurial leaders of tomorrow is an exciting and rewarding challenge."

About the EMC

San Diego State University's EMC (www.sdsu.edu/emc) is dedicated to providing the regional entrepreneurial community with tools and skills necessary for venture creation and growth. The privately funded center promotes better knowledge and understanding of the entrepreneurial process through experiential learning.

About the College of Business Administration

With over 6,000 students, the SDSU College of Business is one of the largest business schools in the U.S. Its programs in undergraduate international business and graduate entrepreneurship are ranked among the top programs in the country by U.S. News and World Report. For more information, visit www.sdsu.edu/business.

About SDSU

San Diego State University is the oldest and largest higher education institution in the San Diego region. Since it was founded in 1897, the university has grown to offer bachelor's degrees in 81 areas, master's degrees in 72 areas and doctorates in 16 areas. SDSU's more than 34,000 students participate in academic curriculum distinguished by direct contact with faculty and an increasing international emphasis that prepares them for a global future. For more information, visit www.sdsu.edu.