Making innovation happen: Q&A with lecturer John DeGraff
July 20, 2015
In a building brimming with talented entrepreneurs, John DeGraff's eyes light up as he talks about the possibilities. The Innovation Center at Whitewater University Technology Park is already a thriving place. Students, faculty and community members are running businesses, creating jobs and coming up with new ideas.
DeGraff, a lecturer in the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater College of Business and Economics, is looking to tap into that energy and take regional entrepreneurship to the next level. In his 25 years in marketing and management consulting, he has successfully launched more than 150 new products, two of which earned more than $2 billion in sales.
He's using that experience to launch the Wisconsin Innovatrium — an institute that serves as a think tank and research lab to help businesses grow. It's a model that has worked extremely well at another university, and DeGraff is bringing the "franchise" to Whitewater.
What is the Innovatrium?
Our goal is for the Innovatrium to be to businesses what the Julliard School is to music. We offer market analysis, leadership training, workshops, project implementation and practicums - all with the goal of growing companies through innovation.
When did it start?
I am one of the founders of the original Innovatrium at the University of Michigan. We launched it nine years ago, and it helped numerous businesses — including Fortune 500 companies — change the way they think and operate. Our new location in Whitewater opened this month and will focus on helping mid-size and large companies. We'll also be working on socially responsible business practices.
Why UW-Whitewater? Why the Innovation Center?
The Innovation Center at Whitewater University Technology Park is gorgeous and well run. You have outstanding leaders who were instrumental in my decision to come here. I want to leave a legacy. It's about helping people grow. I see myself as a coach or a Sherpa. Our entrepreneurs are the stars. They have tremendous capacity to create wealth and jobs and make a difference in their communities.
What's your impression of students?
I've always taught executives, but teaching undergrads is really rewarding. I can't tell you how much I enjoy it. UW-Whitewater students understand the fundamentals and have a really solid base — that Midwestern, roll-up-your-sleeves work ethic. In my previous jobs, I hired five UW-Whitewater students. They were fantastic.