2004 Purdue–Silicon Valley Symposia
"Heroes in the Heartland"
The economic downturn that ended months ago continues to ravage the manufacturing sector of the Midwest, especially the State of Indiana. In the face of massive job loss, record bankruptcies and mortgage foreclosures, and a ballooning state budget deficit, signs of an unprecedented economic comeback have begun to emerge. Heroes in the guise of entrepreneurs are leading the formation of high technology clusters in life sciences, advanced logistics, information technology, and advanced manufacturing that will transform the Indiana economy. And providing the foundation of this amazing turnaround is Purdue University.
Joe Hornett, Senior Vice President & Treasurer of the Purdue Research Foundation, will detail the transformation that is taking place by talking about the people at the forefront and the role that Purdue University is playing. From start-ups that hope to cure cancer to firms on the battleground of homeland security, from companies developing biomaterial for human use to software companies revolutionizing supermarket shopping, Hornett will talk about the firms driving the growth of the Purdue Research Park, Indiana’s first Certified Technology Park. He will talk about the role that Purdue has played in an Advanced Manufacturing Institute and in the launch of the $72 million Indiana’s Future Fund I, a fund of funds focused on Indiana life sciences development. And he will talk about the Purdue Strategic Plan and how it has elevated the discussion of economic development and the advancement of higher education.
Purdue—long known as the cradle of astronauts, heroes of space exploration—is now developing a reputation for the development of a new kind of hero, the entrepreneur, who raises both the standard and the quality of living for individuals and communities.
Joseph B. Hornett
Senior Vice President & Treasurer - Purdue Research Foundation
Chief Investment, Trust & Real Estate Officer - Purdue University
(765) 494-8645
jbhornett@purdue.edu
Since 2001, Joe Hornett has served as the Senior Vice President and Treasurer of the Purdue Research Foundation in addition to holding a part-time appointment as Purdue University’s Chief Investment, Trust and Real Estate Officer. As the chief operating officer of the Purdue Research Foundation, Mr. Hornett is responsible for managing the affairs of this $548 million 501(c)3 charitable organization founded in 1930 to exclusively serve the interests of Purdue University. In this role, Mr. Hornett is charged with providing strategic direction and leadership in five mission-critical areas: endowment management ($1.1 billion over three separate portfolios), trust administration ($107 million), real estate operations, technology commercialization, and economic development initiatives.
Prior to his appointments with the Purdue Research Foundation and Purdue University, Mr. Hornett was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Maingate, Incorporated, a firm recognized as one of the premier event merchandisers in the United States with strong ties to the motorsports industry. He continues to serve on Maingate’s Board of Directors.
Mr. Hornett began his career with General Electric in 1976 and graduated from that company’s highly-regarded Financial Management Program. In 1979 he began a 10-year career with Indiana Bell which included assignments in strategic planning, internal auditing and product management. In 1989, Mr. Hornett was named Chief Financial Officer for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis where he received nationwide recognition in 1997 as “Financial Executive of the Year” for innovations in education finance and not-for-profit management. And in 1998, he was named as a Division President with Service Corporation International.
Joe Hornett graduated with a Master in Business Administration degree in 1988 from Butler University. In 1976 he received a Bachelor in Business Administration degree from the University of Notre Dame with a concentration in Management. Mr. Hornett holds a number of professional certifications including: Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified in Financial Management (CFM), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and Certified Treasury Professional (CTP). Mr. Hornett also graduated from the Williams College Executive Development Program and went on to serve as a member of its Board of Directors.