Instructors
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Dr. Paul Porter & Mark Nelson
Why we created this course togetherPaul: Over the years I have been curious about the what seemed to be an artificial separation between the world of business and the world of education. Each have looked at the other from a distance with suspicion and even distrust. As I worked with each group I came to realize how much each had to learn from the other, what a rich resource each could be to the other. As I became familiar with the concepts and heart of entrepreneurialism I came to believe that we need to somehow begin to teach students to think and act like entrepreneurs at an early area. Not in the sense of profit and loss, but to see themselves as responsible for their own continuous improvement, to view problems as opportunities, to see risk taking differently, to look at change in new ways, and to deeply understand many of the skills that will be essential for their engagement and happiness in the 21st century.Mark: After spending two plus decades in the human resource, staffing and workforce solutions space, it became apparent how many of our young people were simply not ready for the world of work, many of whom graduated from University. Additionally, it worried me how many very successful people discontinued making the appropriate investments in their personal learning and skill development, leaving thousands in a state of irrelevance. As I reflected on my past, and recalled the key influences in my life, I realized that educators held keys to unleash the passions in not only our young people, but the world at large. At that point, I knew what we needed to do. We needed to start a movement, an entrepreneurial movement in education!
BiographiesDr. Paul Porter is currently a faculty member in the Educational Leadership program at Sonoma State University preparing educators to become school leaders. He is also part of the faculty and former co-director of the joint doctoral program between SSU and UC Davis. Dr. Porter formerly served in a variety of school leadership positions in schools and school districts including as a school counselor, elementary and secondary school principal, director of special education, SELPA director, and then a school superintendent for 17 years. He has provided consultation to schools in the areas of leadership, conflict management, team building, and organizational development. Dr. Porter received his bachelors from UC Davis and doctorate in Educational Psychology from Brigham Young University. His interests include school law and change, leadership, distance learning, organizational development, and positive psychology.
Mark Nelson spent twenty years building businesses for the Nelson Family of Companies (NFC), a workforce management and talent acquisition company based in Northern California. Named President and Chief Operating Officer in 1995, NFC grew revenue from $56 million to nearly $400 million by the end of 2007. Working with some of the most highly discriminating clientele in Northern California, Mark has served as a trusted advisor for companies like Google, Sony Computer Entertainment America, Bank of the West, Clorox, Gilardi and Co., Trinchero Family Estates, Sun Microsystems, Cisco Systems, Bank of America, and countless others. Mark received his bachelors from the University of San Francisco and is a California certified public accountant. He is an avid philanthropist who is dedicated to community support of organizations like Bread and Roses, American Red Cross, and the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce. |