Walnut Creek Man Wins Entrepreneur Award from JFK University

Marty Reed of Walnut Creek was awarded the Entrepreneur of the Year Award by JFK University on May 17.
 
Reed is an alumni of JFK, having received his MBA from there in 1999.  

“I was a typical Silicon Valley entrepreneur, an over confident twenty-something that decided to launch a start-up,” he said. “I very quickly realized I had no clue what I was doing and needed help.”

At JFK, a classmate suggested that he interview at a small startup called “Ask Jeeves.” Reed got the job, and helped guide the search engine company through an IPO, and the dot-com bust. Ask Jeeves was sold in 2005 for $1.85 billion.
 
After working with other successful Internet companies, including Cardstore.com, Reed joined the venture capital company, the Roda Group, where he remains a principal. Reed is also a director of the Alliance of Chief Executives, a group of Northern California CEOs. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Save Mount Diablo, an organization whose mission is to preserve, defend and restore the vast unprotected lands of Mount Diablo.

“It’s great to be acknowledged for a body of work,” Reed said. “Through this award, I hope to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs who wonder if they can follow their passion and get their MBA at the same time.”