Kevin Ernst

I began my career as a computer programmer in the emerging direct marketing digital print field. This led to a management position where I was responsible for day-to-day scheduling, performance of staff, and ensuring mission critical operations. While a manager I established and executed a plan of action to retain key employees unable to relocate to a new company headquarters by setting up work from home and virtual offices before that model became a popular means of working, designed and wrote all training material utilized in the training of new staff, rewrote job descriptions and established pay rates for employees. Later in my career I researched, negotiated, and purchased state of the art document composing software meant to replace the legacy system while maintaining the current document models and templates and prepping for future growth.

In 2009 I switched fields and began providing business startup mentoring and guidance through a non-profit organization that supported the Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities Agency. In keeping with this field switch, I began my career with Ohio Northern University in 2012 as the Director of the Community Economic Development Center, a grant funded student business consulting service. That same academic year I was appointed as an adjunct lecturer, a role that would later lead to a tenure track appointment. In 2015 I assumed ownership of the non-profit and converted it from a non-profit to a for-profit with a social mission statement. Today, my company, EnterpriseWorks, has provided startup guidance and support to over 600 persons with disabilities and consulted for 2 State of Ohio Agencies that were converted from public service to for-profit businesses.

My service to the James F. Dicke College of Business Administration, Ohio Northern University, and others all emphasize the core value of being engaged and being a servant leader. Committees and appointments I have been part of as a Scholarly Practitioner are:

• University Council At-Large
• MBAA International Program Chair
• MBAA International Assistant Program Chair
• MBAA International Proceedings Editor
• Alternative for Faculty Grievance Committee
• DCBA Assurance of Learning Committee
• DCBA Student Retention Committee
• DCBA Promotion, Retention and Tenure Committee
• DCBA Grade Appeals Committee
• Disabilities Accommodations Appeals Committee
• General Education Committee
• Diversity Equity & Inclusion Task Force
• Honorary Degrees Committee
• DCBA Student Organizations chair
• Academic Conduct Committee
• Text Book Affordability Committee
• College of Engineering University Innovation Fellow Stakeholder
• Institutional Repository Committee
• DCBA Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats chair
• Quality Matters Reviewer

Classes that I currently teach at the College of Business are:

• Principles of Entrepreneurship
• Principles of Management
• Project Management
• Small Business Management
• Capstone - Management Major
• Capstone - Pharmaceutical & Healthcare Major

My service to others includes meeting individual’s wanting to be self-employed and assessing the business ideas to determine the feasibility of them successfully being able to startup and initially run a small business. This same service is extended to students and alumni of ONU who need advice and or training in all aspects of small business operation. I have used my business savvy and skills to serve my local government in the past as the Ward 3 Floodplain Commissioner on the City of Shelby’s Floodplain Commission, City Planning Committee member for the City of Shelby, and Board Member for the Shelby-Oakland Cemetery Board.

In these roles, I represent the conservative approach to the concerns, ambitions, and needs for advancement. I believe that the facts of experience yield a greater level of success than reforms that go against well thought-out and time-tested methods/rules. That is not to say that I don’t champion reform, only that I view reform as a means to conserve the results of best practices already in place.