Students will have an opportunity to hear about successful entrepreneurship this semester from one of the best.
As part of installation week, honoring new Chancellor Randolph Woodson, a lecture series on entrepreneurship is being held Monday. Peter Lehrer, co-founder of Lehrer-McGovern, will be the keynote speaker. Woodson will be introducing Lehrer before his speech.
“There are a lot of events going on during installation week, and this is one of them. The Chancellor will be introducing Mr. Lehrer before he speaks and give everyone some background information,” said Stephanie Parker, assistant to the chancellor for communications.
Lehrer’s lecture will be held Monday at 4 p.m. Before his lecture begins, the Office of Technology Transfer will host a showcase of entrepreneurial companies launched at the University. This event will be held at 3 p.m. The events are being held at McKimmon Center.
“We are hoping that students can gain some awareness by going to this event. We want to promote success on our campus,” Parker said.
After leaving the company Morse/Diesel in 1979, Lehrer founded his current company, Lehrer-McGovern with Gene McGovern, who had worked with him at his previous company, according to an ncsu.edu report. Lehrer-McGovern are now considered one of the top three builders in America’s $100 billion construction industry, the report said.
During his speech, Lehrer will be discussing the documentary “Dream Builders,” which is about his entrepreneurial career in construction.
“Entrepreneurship is what N.C. State is all about. A lot of our graduates have done something like that and a lot of students want to do something like it,” Parker said.
Lehrer was chosen as a speaker because of his great success as well as his personal relationship with the University. He graduated from the University in 1963 with honors in civil engineering. His success is something the chancellor is hoping students will be able to benefit from hearing about.
“It’s a great way to celebrate a successful alumni while encouraging students to excel,” Parker said.
Lehrer is known for his work on large construction projects. His company has worked on several big projects, including the restoration of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Euroland Disney, and the restoration of Grand Central Station in New York City.
“I always had tremendous belief in myself, but even more in the people I work with [and] in my company’s ability to deliver,” said Lehrer in a July 28, 2005 New York Sun report.
