Institute Leadership Team
Ann Dugan, is the founder of the Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence, part of the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh. Created to foster the growth and development of family businesses and entrepreneurial firms, seed innovation and promote technology transfer, the Institute provides consulting services, educational programs and exclusive peer networking opportunities to businesses at every stage in the business lifecycle. Since inception, the Institute has helped start over 1,000 businesses, raised $250 million in capital and provided educational programs to 25,000 business leaders.
Ann Dugan is an accomplished author, lecturer and business consultant with more than 20 years of experience researching, developing and writing in the areas of family business, strategic planning, development of the franchise system and the dynamics of the entrepreneurial firm. A frequent contributor to articles published in Fortune, Inc, New York Times, Entrepreneur, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Business Times, Ms. Dugan is also the editor and co-author of the national best seller Franchising 101 and the recently released A Woman’s Place… The Crucial Roles of Women in Family Business.
Ms. Dugan is a leader in community and economic development activities. Her efforts have been recognized with numerous awards, including: Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2009; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Top 50 business leaders; SBA Financial Advocate of the Year; Girl Scouts Women of Distinction; and the Executive Women’s Council Women of Achievement Award. Ms. Dugan has been a board member of the Redevelopment Authority of Washington County for more than 10 years and is responsible for guiding more than $28 million annually in county infrastructure development. In addition, Ms. Dugan currently serves on the boards of Innovation Works, Pittsburgh Gateways, Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board (TRWIB), Bridgeway Capital, and VisitPittsburgh.
Michael S. Lehman, is Director of PantherlabWorks and Student Services at the IEE. Dr. Lehman's experience focuses on the intersection of entrepreneurship, higher education and science. He grew the Juniata College Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, which included a business incubator, student seed capital fund, academic and curricular programs and community-based economic development initiatives. He has consulted with colleges on building entrepreneurial programs and created professional development opportunities for faculty across academic disciplines seeking to integrate entrepreneurship into their courses. In addition, he has worked with medical and pre-medical students in both teaching and advising capacities. Prior to entering higher education administration, Dr. Lehman's work experience included Johnson's orthopedic company, DePuy International, in Leeds, England and the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, PA.
Christine Kush, serves as the Associate Director of the IEE. Her time here has demonstrated her proven excellence in the fields of management, financial accounting, marketing, budgeting, programming and institutional development. She has overseen the development and maintenance of relationships with key stakeholders both internal and external to the University, which supports the Institute's mission to be the innovative leader of economic renewal and growth as it serves enterprising people and businesses in Western Pennsylvania.
Craig Sweger, Director of the Agricultural Entrepreneurship Program at the IEE, is an experienced agricultural businessman and respected advocate for the agricultural community. With more than 30 years of experience as the owner and operator of a 385-acre commercial hay farm and a farm machinery sales and service company, Mr. Sweger brings to the program a level of first-hand experience and understanding that many business development initiatives lack in this sector. Mr. Sweger has connected economic development leaders and members of the agricultural community for decades, serving as a board member on the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, president of the Washington County Farm Bureau, and chairman of both the Farmland Preservation Board and the USDA Steering Committee for the Western Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association.
Raymond L. Vargo, Director of the University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center at the IEE, counsels businesses at all stages of their lifecycle. Working with businesses in industries such as retail, high tech, manufacturing and professional services, he provides strategic business and financial advice to help companies expand their profits, explore new markets and overcome business challenges. Since opening the Washington County Outreach Office of the University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center in 1995, Mr. Vargo has grown it to become one of the most successful outreach offices in the Pennsylvania SBDC system. He has become a leader and valuable resource for Western Pennsylvania businesses, and in addition to his consulting management responsibilities, Mr. Vargo teaches accounting and small business management to both undergraduate and graduate students at Waynesburg College and the University of Pittsburgh.