Ten years ago, entrepreneur, business leader and author O'Merrial Butchee saw an opportunity and seized it.

Through the green and white of Ivy Tech Community College she saw a community of people who were caring and desiring to help its students, staff and faculty positively impact its region. She wanted to be a part of that environment and joined Ivy Tech as an adjunct professor in 1997.

She infused years of Fortune 100 corporate experience with her curriculum of four business classes here at Ivy Tech to deliver a comprehensive learning experience for her students.

Ms. Butchee, a former treasurer of an American Can Company, managed a portfolio in excess of $80 million. She retired and started a training and consulting business where she experienced best practices and innovative works of clients like McDonalds Corporation and Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company.

Compelled to share her abilities, skills and knowledge with her community, she has joined the Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana Northwest as the new director of the Gerald I. Lamkin Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center. The center was recently named after Ivy Tech's president, Gerald I. Lamkin. The center is located at the Gary campus, but it also serves the East Chicago, Michigan City, and Valparaiso Campuses.

Surrounded by best practices and innovative thinking from her clients, she has made the transition from entrepreneur to intrapreneur. She is the owner of one patent and shares two pending patents and shares with an associate. Ms. Butchee has a master's degree in Public and Environmental Affairs, and has received various degrees and certifications from institutions such as Purdue and Indiana Universities and La Universidad Ibero-Americana- Mexico. Chancellor Valtierra along with the Ivy Tech Family extends a warm welcome to O'Merrial Butchee, the new director.