Distinguished Entrepreneur Speaker Series

The Turner School of Entrepreneurship and Innovation collaborates with internationally known entrepreneurs to provide an event where you can imagine yourself as an entrepreneur and discover roads to opportunity. Join us as we listen to an entrepreneurial journey and immerse ourselves in the dynamic Peoria entrepreneurial ecosystem. Engage at the free public event or join small-group student discussions.

Upcoming Speaker

Jeff Hoffman, Founder of Priceline.com and Booking.com

April 23, 2024, at 7 pm Peplow Pavilion, Hayden-Clark Alumni Center

Celebrating 10 years of distinguished speakers, we bring back our inaugural speaker – Jeff Hoffman.

Jeff Hoffman is an award-winning global entrepreneur, proven CEO, worldwide motivational speaker, bestselling author, Hollywood film producer, a producer of a Grammy Award winning jazz album, and executive producer of an Emmy Award winning television show. He is an Executive Producer and stars in the groundbreaking new TV series GOING PUBLIC, a show where viewers worldwide can invest in the startups that Jeff is mentoring on the air. In his career, he has been the founder of multiple startups, the CEO of both public and private companies, and served as a senior executive in many capacities. Jeff has been part of a number of well-known successful startups, including Priceline.com/Booking.com, uBid.com and more. Jeff is the Chairman of the Global Entrepreneurship Network, which works with entrepreneurs in 190 countries, as well as being a founding board member of The Unreasonable Group, whose 289 portfolio companies have raised $6.6 billion in funding and have positively impacted more than 720 million lives worldwide. Jeff is also the founder and CEO of World Youth Horizons, a non-profit organization providing homes, schools, food, and health care to children in need around the globe.

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Previous Speakers

2022 Capt. Rosbach, Hydro Flask® inventor and founder

2019 Rob Angel, creator of the popular board game "Pictionary"

2018 Frank Shankwitz, Make-A-Wish Foundation founder

2017 Gene Landrum, originator Chuck E. Cheese

2016 Craig Culver, Culver’s Restaurants founder

2015 Dave Alwan, President of Echo Valley Meats

2014 Former Ambassador Nancy Brinker, Komen Foundation, and Race for the Cure founder

2014 Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey, Barefoot Wine founders

2013 Michael DeLazzer, Redbox founder

2013 Jeff Hoffman, Priceline.com founder