|
Kent Oyler is a proven serial entrepreneur, having so far started 17 distinct business ventures. He currently serves as CEO of OPM Services, Inc., a company he founded in 1992 (2001 #84 ranking on Inc. 500 list) and and CEO of Icelease Partners, a business that has grown to be the world's largest manufacturer and lessor of high capacity ice making and ice handling equipment. In 1997, Kent co-founded High Speed Access Corp. (NASDAQ: HSAC) where he served as Chief Strategy Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Officer. Also in 1997, he founded Power Flats, which grew to be the nation's leading operator of heavy-duty flat rail cars, before its sale in 2000. In 2004, Kent co-founded two new businesses, Commonwealth Entertainment and Simpak International. Prior to his entrepreneurial career, Kent received undergraduate and MBA degrees from the University of Louisville and worked as a Cash Management Officer at Citizens Fidelity (now PNC) Bank and as Chief Financial Officer at the privately held heavy manufacturer Henry Vogt Company. In 1985, Kent was honored as the national Treasurer of the Year by CASHFLOW magazine. He was the Kentuckiana Ernst & Young Master Entrepreneur of the Year in 2000. Kent serves on numerous charitable boards including Leadership Louisville, Metro United Way, United Way of America Leadership Council, The Venture Club of Louisville, The Enterprise Corp, MetaCyte Life Science Incubator, University of Louisville Board of Overseers and the University of Louisville College of Business Entrepreneurial Council. He is also an officer in the Young President’s Organization, is co-chairing the capital campaign for the Louisville Science Center and serves on the Advisory Board of Thornton Oil Corp. In addition to his charitable and business activities, Kent is also currently Metro Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson’s Special Assistant for Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital. Most recently, Kent was named 2005 Small Company Business Leader of the Year by Business First. | 