$3 million gift will create Forcht Center for Entrepreneurship The College of Business will use a $3 million gift from Corbin entrepreneurs Terry and Marion Forcht to create the Forcht Center for Entrepreneurship and expand the college’s nationally ranked entrepreneurship programs, Dean Charlie Moyer announced today.

The Forchts’ legacy gift is among the largest ever received by the College of Business.

Forcht, a 1959 graduate of the college, has created or acquired nearly 100 businesses during his 40-year career.  He is founder and CEO of Forcht Bank, N.A., one of the largest bank groups in Kentucky. His wife Marion is a 1959 graduate of the UofL College of Arts and Sciences and a businesswoman and civic leader.

“A gift of this magnitude recognizes our accomplishments and launches our programs to the next level,” said Dean Moyer. “As a visionary entrepreneur, Terry Forcht also brings inspiration and a wealth of intellectual capital to our efforts.”  

In little more than a decade, the College of Business entrepreneurship program has risen from start-up to national acclaim. Last year it became the highest ranked academic program ever at UofL. Most recently it was named one of the Top 25 graduate programs in the U.S. by Entrepreneur Magazine and The Princeton Review.  

Forcht Bank has more than $1 billion in assets and 34 banking centers in 11 Kentucky counties.  Terry Forcht also is CEO of the Forcht Group of Kentucky, an umbrella organization for 94 separate companies with more than 2,100 employees.  Companies include broadcasting and media, healthcare, construction and real estate, insurance, equine, and data and web services. (www.ForchtGroup.com)

Moyer said in establishing the Forcht Center for Entrepreneurship, the college will expand student exposure to entrepreneurial opportunities, host forums and speakers of national significance, celebrate the success of entrepreneurial graduates and expand partnerships with regional economic development interests.

The college’s entrepreneurship programs include a PhD in Entrepreneurship, the IMBA (MBA for Entrepreneurial Thinking), an undergraduate minor, The Brown-Forman Cardinal Challenge Business Plan Competition, The Ballard Morton New Venture Challenge, The Cardinal Venture Fund, Small Business Institute, Entrepreneurship Council, Family Business Center, and sponsoring membership in the Venture Club of Louisville and Greater Louisville Small Business Development Center.

Forcht, who was named 2006 Alumni Fellow for the College of Business, is a member of the college’s Board of Advisors.  He also is a 1964 graduate of the UofL law school.