Madison civic leader honored with gift to UW business school

Bruce D. Neviaser, chair and founding director of the Great Lakes Companies Inc., Madison, has pledged $1 million to the Weinert Center for Entrepreneurship in the School of Business to honor his father, Daniel H. Neviaser, a prominent Madison business owner and civic leader.

Dan Neviaser is known for his extraordinary entrepreneurship, risk-taking, straight talk and hard work in building a strong community. He has been a prominent figure in the Madison business community since moving here from Virginia in 1960. He owns and operates hotels, including the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel in Madison, as well as numerous office buildings, and commercial and retail buildings. He was part owner and board chair of several television stations in Texas, as well as a director and charter member of Telstar, Inc., a director of the Milwaukee Bucks and a partner in the Golden State Warriors basketball team.

School of Business Dean Michael M. Knetter says Neviaser has been an exceptionally good friend and supporter of the university, and has served a pivotal role in the growth of the school’s facilities, particularly in his role as chair of the Dean’s Advisory Board.

“We are honored by the association with Dan because of his record of giving back to the community,” Knetter says. “We have been a major beneficiary of his wisdom, energy and ability to bring people together to make progress. I believe there is no better way to honor Dan Neviaser than to encourage the spirit of entrepreneurship in university students. Dan loves the challenge of business and creating value for customers and investors.”

The gift will provide seed capital for business school students to finance their promising business ventures through the Weinert Center for Entrepreneurship, where Neviaser has been heavily involved with students and its advisory board. The funds will be invested and managed by the University of Wisconsin Foundation as a permanent endowment fund.

Assistant Professor Gerry George, director of the Weinert Applied Ventures in Entrepreneurship (WAVE) program, says, “Our students will benefit from assistance in their own quest to build businesses and become useful members of the community. Dan is a great role model for aspiring entrepreneurs.”

One graduate, Marsha McVicker, a successful entrepreneur in the Chicago area, said recently that Neviaser’s advice and support made it possible for her to negotiate many business challenges. “Dan is the reason I have my company and my sanity. He is a true mentor who has taught me a lot about business, but probably more about life. He always is my first call whenever I feel overwhelmed,” she said.

The recipient of numerous civic and business awards, Neviaser has volunteered time to assist many students in their efforts to build their businesses.

The gift will be formally announced at the annual meeting of the WAVE board on May 7.