November 4, 2009

John Jacobson, president and CEO of Blue Pacific Acquisitions of Fresno, is the 2009-10 Entrepreneur in Residence at the Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at California State University, Fresno.

“It is a great honor to be named the Lyles Center Entrepreneur in Residence,” said Jacobson. “It’s always good to give back to the community, and this is my opportunity to do that and help the next generation of entrepreneurs.”

This semester, Jacobson has assisted Fresno State students with their startup businesses. He also helped the National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge Central Valley High School Business Plan winner prepare for national competition in New York. 

This week, Jacobson is lecturing in classes, conducting seminars and meeting with entrepreneurs in the community. 

“John is a vital resource for entrepreneurs and students as he has 34 years of business experience in various aspects of the field,” said Dr. Timothy Stearns, director of the Lyles Center.

Jacobson’s career has taken him from sales representative to CEO. He has experience building a business from the bottom up and has management experience in technology-based business, product marketing, hardware and service and support companies.  

This is his inaugural work with the Lyles Center and he likes the nonstop pace. “Students come in every day to ask questions,” said Jacobson. “It’s like I have responsibility over five or six companies, and I help guide them in their decision making processes.”

With the current state of the economy, Jacobson believes that entrepreneurship education is vital, saying, “The Lyles Center is teaching students how to run their own business, to take risks and think outside the box.”   

For more information, contact Genelle Taylor at 559.347.6832 or genellet@csufresno.edu.