New Duquesne Entrepreneurial Studies Director Focuses on Ethics, Sustainability

Dr. John “Jack” Mason, an executive, consultant, researcher and educator with more than 40 years of technical and management experience in energy/technology businesses, has joined the Palumbo-Donahue School of Business as director of entrepreneurial studies.

Mason brings a portfolio including startups, turn-arounds, and merger and performance improvement. His many management positions include having served as president of TENERA, a 350-person, $50 million public firm that provided energy facility engineering, power plant design, safety analysis and other services to industry clients and the Department of Energy.

Mason’s perspective has been shaped by work within utility, commercial, industrial, academic, as well as system and service provider organizations. His background as a U.S. Naval Academy graduate expanded to include a master’s in management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management and a Doctor of Science in engineering from MIT. A Sloan Fellow, Mason studied with managers and executives from 25 countries, interacted with dozens of Global 500 company executive and conducted research in France, Germany, Japan and the U.S.

In addition, Mason retains many contacts from MIT as well as more recent positions in Colorado, working with startups and as faculty for the University of Colorado’s Global Energy Management program. He is principal of Mason Energy + Management, a consulting firm that provides energy efficiency programs for commercial buildings.

Mason’s experiences in ethics and sustainability issues provide a powerful combination for guiding entrepreneurial studies and dovetailing with other business programs.

One of Mason’s first priorities will be to invite comments and collaborative possibilities from schools, departments, faculty and staff across campus as well as the business and startup community. He envisions expanding connections between entrepreneurial studies and other disciplines, enhancing all programs while providing students with increased opportunities.

“Besides raising the visibility of our entrepreneurial studies, I would like to reach out to see how we can help to make the startup community in Pittsburgh stronger,” Mason said. “I’m also interested in ‘intraprenuer’ programs, developing the spirit and skill set of startups within established companies.”

The still-growing entrepreneurial studies program is in its second decade and has a primary focus on undergraduate education and developing opportunities at the graduate level. Mason invites comments and suggestions at 412.396.2539.