FORT COLLINS - Colorado State University's College of Business is hosting a renowned aircraft entrepreneur as part of the college's Great Entrepreneur Speaker Series.

Rick Adam Jr., chief executive officer of Adam Aircraft Industries in Centennial, Colo., will speak from 5-6 p.m. Nov. 9 at the University Park Holiday Inn in Fort Collins. The event is free and open to the public. Participants may attend a networking session before the presentation beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Adam was selected as recipient of the Aviation Week and Space Technology 2002 Laurels Award for outstanding achievement in the field of Aeronautics and Propulsion. He also has received numerous awards and recognition for his entrepreneurial achievements, including the 2003 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist award for the Rocky Mountain Region in the manufacturing category.

Before founding Adam Aircraft Industries, Adam formed a fast-growing technology company in Colorado, New Era of Networks. New Era of Networks was ranked seventh nationally in 1999 by Deloitte & Touche on its Technology Fast 500 list.

Adam served as general partner with Goldman Sachs and Co. where he was in charge of information technology, back-office operations and general services, directing a staff of more than 2,500 and managing a budget in excess of $800 million.

Adam initiated and completed a successful turnaround of Goldman's IT operations, reducing costs by using technology as a medium for profit and changing the way top Goldman executives worked with technology. He also founded the Goldman Sachs Trust Co., Global Custody Business and Securities Lending Business. Before Goldman Sachs, Adam held executives positions at Baxter Healthcare Corp., FMC, Littleton Industries and IBM.

Adam received his bachelor's from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and, as a captain in the U.S. Air Force, served as launch crew officer in charge of the Real Time Computer Center at Kennedy Space Center for Apollo Missions eight through 14. He was twice awarded the Air Force's Commendation Medal. Adam received his master's in business administration from Florida State University and Golden Gate University. He has flown more than 15 different types of aircraft.

For more information about the event, contact the Center for Entrepreneurship at (970) 491-6876.