J.D. Power and Associates Founder Honored by USC Entrepreneur Program
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., Oct. 18, 2006 -- J.D. "Dave" Power III, founder of J.D. Power and Associates, was recognized yesterday as 2006 Entrepreneur of the Year by the USC Marshall School of Business' Lloyd Grief Center for Entrepreneurial Studies. The ceremony was held at the USC Marshall School of Business in Los Angeles.
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Since 1977, the Entrepreneur Program has honored some of the most distinguished figures in American business, recognizing those whose leadership, vision and entrepreneurial achievements have transcended industries.
Power, who spent more than four decades as a pioneer in customer satisfaction, joins an exclusive list of entrepreneurial giants, including: Steven Jobs (Apple Computer Inc.), Ray Kroc (McDonald's Corp.), Armand Hammer (Occidental Petroleum Corporation), Angelo Mozila (Countrywide Homes) and Dr. George Rathmann (Amgen Inc.)
"It's truly an honor to receive this award and to be recognized by such a prestigious and storied university," said Power.
J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services firm best known for its work in the automotive industry. It also conducts quality and customer satisfaction research for more than a dozen industries worldwide.
Following graduation from College of the Holy Cross in 1953, Mr. Power served four years of line officer duty aboard a Coast Guard icebreaker in the Arctic and Antarctic. He subsequently earned an MBA from the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania. He joined Ford Motor Company as a financial analyst and later worked for Marplan as a marketing research consultant for General Motors Corporation's Buick and GMC truck and coach divisions. Prior to launching J.D. Power and Associates in 1968, Power worked as a marketing research executive for J.I. Case Company, a construction and farm equipment manufacturer, and was director of corporate planning for McCulloch Corporation, a Los Angeles-based engine manufacturer.
In 1992, Mr. Power was a recipient of the Automotive Hall of Fame's Distinguished Service Citation, awarded each year to seven of the industry's most accomplished leaders. He holds honorary doctorate degrees from College of the Holy Cross, California Lutheran University, California State University, Northridge and College Misericordia.
"This award recognizes entrepreneurial success, but it also celebrates the extraordinary man Dave is," said Steve Goodall, president of J.D. Power and Associates. "It applauds his charitable and civic leadership as well as the extraordinarily positive impact he has had on the many associates who found jobs -- and careers -- enriched by the values of empowerment, integrity and innovation that Dave Power continues to model for all those around him."
Founded in 1971, the Marshall School's Entrepreneur Program is the oldest program of its kind in the nation. Offered on both the undergraduate and graduate levels, more than 3,000 students have graduated from the program through its team-taught method of curriculum presentation. In its annual rankings of the nation's top entrepreneur programs, Success magazine recently ranked the USC Entrepreneur Program as No. 1 for curriculum.
On the day of the ceremony, Power had lunch with undergraduate and graduate students from the USC business school, and participated in a seminar and question-and-answer session with students, alumni, faculty and staff. The day concluded with an award banquet in USC's Town & Gown.
About J.D. Power and Associates
Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is an ISO 9001-registered global marketing information services firm operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, consulting, training and customer satisfaction. The firm's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.
About The McGraw-Hill Companies
Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies is a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education, BusinessWeek and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has more than 290 offices in 38 countries. Sales in 2005 were $6.0 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/.
J.D. Power and Associates Media Relations Contacts: John Tews Syvetril Perryman J.D. Power and Associates J.D. Power and Associates Troy, Mich. Westlake Village, Calif. (248) 312-4119 (805) 418-8103 john.tews@jdpa.com syvetril.perryman@jdpa.com
No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information in this release without the express prior written consent of J.D. Power and Associates. www.jdpower.com/corporate
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