Clemson University to honor alumni entrepreneurs Kirk Hawkins and Jane Robelot

By Taylor Reeves

CLEMSON, SC – March 29, 2011 –  The Arthur M. Spiro Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership will honor two distinguished Clemson University alumni at the sixthannual Celebration of Clemson Alumni Entrepreneurs at 6 p.m. Tuesday,March 29, at the Madren Conference Center. This year’s honorees are KirkHawkins, founder and CEO of ICON Aircraft, and Jane Robelot, televisionnews anchor and co-founder of CarolinaZoom TV.

After earning his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering fromClemson, Hawkins worked in aviation and aerospace engineering most ofhis early career. He was the director of engineering at Task Industries,an aerospace contractor, before earning his master’s degree inmechanical engineering from Stanford University.

Before founding ICON, Hawkins flew F-16s in the U.S. Air Force,including two tours in Iraq, and also flew 757s for American Airlines.ICON was conceived to build a new line of consumer-focused sportaircraft. Hawkins and his team developed ICON’s business model, strategyand product line of Light Sport Aircraft to reach a broad market ofmechanics and pilots.

Robelot graduated from Clemson with a degree in economics in 1982.After beginning her career in radio and television in South Carolina,Robelot was a CBS News anchor from 1995 through 1999, co-anchor of CBSMorning News and anchor of CBS This Morning. She has interviewednumerous politicians, celebrities and public figures throughout hercareer and has covered various high-profile events.

Robelot was nominated three times for national Emmy awards and wontwice for journalistic excellence. She co-founded CarolinaZoom TV, aproduction company based in Greenville, with her husband MarioDeCarvalho.

Hawkins and Robelot will share their experiences and offer advice in apanel discussion open to Clemson students and faculty, as well as localentrepreneurs and members of the business community. The moderator forthe event will be Andy Monin, a Clemson graduate and chairman and CEO ofVendormate.

Attendance for the event is free, but registration is required. Register online at http://www.clemson.edu/centers-institutes/spiro/rsvp.html or contact [email protected] for more information.