Business leader joins Center for Entrepreneurship

The University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Business has announced that Dan Olszewski has been named director of the Weinert Center for Entrepreneurship.

Olszewski is the former president and CEO of Katun Corp., the world’s leading alternate supplier of imaging supplies, photoreceptors and parts for the business equipment industry. Katun and its affiliates have combined revenue in excess of $400 million. Olszewski has also been a lecturer at the UW–Madison School of Business.

In his new position, Olszewski will direct the entrepreneurship program, one of 13 MBA specializations at the business school.

“We are fortunate to have someone with this level of experience leading the Weinert Center,” says Michael Knetter, dean of the business school. “In this role, Dan will have the opportunity to assist students as they navigate coursework and job searches. It’s incredibly valuable for our MBA students to learn from an industry expert.”

Olszewski joined Katun in 2003 after serving as president and CEO of Katun’s strategic partner Parts Now! PNA Holdings LLC, a group of private equity investors, affiliated the two companies in a July 2002 acquisition. During Olszewski’s tenure, the company grew from $26 million to $86 million in revenues. With the assistance of Private Equity sponsors, he also led the successful buyout of the founder in 1999. Before joining Parts Now! Olszewski was a consultant at McKinsey and Co., with a focus on strategy, integrated logistics, technology and finance. Olszewski has also worked for IBM, the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, and Yasuda Fire and Marine Insurance in Tokyo.

Olszewski graduated with distinction from UW–Madison with a bachelor’s degree in economics and computer sciences, and he received an MBA in from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration. Olszewski is on the board of directors of World Data Products Inc. and the advisory board of Cascade Asset Management. He has also served on the nonprofit advisory boards for the Henry Vilas Zoological Society, WHA Public Television and the Erdman Center for Manufacturing and Technology Management at the UW–Madison School of Business.