HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. — Northern Kentucky University named Dr. David Schneider, a highly successful entrepreneur, business executive and NKU alumnus, as director of its award winning Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Schneider will assume the role Jan. 6, 2020, leading NKU’s center that allows students to take ownership of their future through innovation and entrepreneurial activities both inside and outside the classroom.
Schneider currently serves as the CEO of Rem Brands Inc., a technology incubator of high performance patented chemistries and proprietary formulas. Spanning a 30-year career, he brings a wide variety of business experience to the CIE, from launching startups as an entrepreneur to guiding established public and private companies as the president/CEO. He has extensive experience negotiating and executing contracts in multinational environments including North America, Asia and Europe.
Schneider is also the inventor on 29 granted patents as well as several pending patents and has leveraged this technical expertise to help other entrepreneurs pursuing intellectual-based businesses in the region.
“David’s track record as a very successful entrepreneur will provide immediate and tangible benefits to our students and the region,” said College of Business Dean Hassan HassabElnaby. “His success in starting and incubating multiple businesses comes from a foundation of team building and mentoring talent for maximum results. This creates a ‘provable’ road map forward to help raise the next generation of great northern Kentucky companies and will enhance our globally recognized CIE.”
In 2018, the CIE, housed within the College of Business, was selected as one of the five finalists at the 2018 Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers’ annual conference. This was the second time in recent years the GCEC recognized the CIE for being among the best in world at launching and supporting student-led startup companies.
Schneider has served on the CIE’s board since it was created in 2014 and has had an active role in mentoring students. In addition to earning his bachelor of science degrees in physics and mathematics, he also has served as an adjunct professor in physics, astronomy and in the Entrepreneurship Program.
“I’m an entrepreneur at the core and really enjoy bringing new products to the market and mentoring students. I love to share what I’ve learned and hope it can set a student on a strong career path,” said Schneider. “It’s great to also be back at NKU. I have such deep roots here that it really is like coming home.”
“David’s proven success as an entrepreneur and passion for the region and Northern Kentucky University make him ideally suited to lead our efforts to catalyze a prosperous, equitable and inclusive regional ecosystem through economic development and entrepreneurship. We are very pleased he has returned to NKU,” said President Ashish Vaidya.
Schneider earned his Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati and his M.S. from the University of Connecticut. The CIE is home to an award-winning curriculum that offers both a major and minor in entrepreneurship. Current interim co-directors, Jeff Varrone and Zac Strobl, will move to assistant directors.
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