Jerome Smith is a mentor, and as a Co-Director manages the VMS Outreach Project which provides services to other academic centers and organizations interested in adopting the VMS model as part of their entrepreneurship efforts. Jerome is a seasoned senior executive with over 37 years of leadership experience in the chemical, polymer, medical and imaging industries, and a proven track record as a turnaround specialist at the senior executive level. He transformed four global DuPont businesses from loss or weak earnings positions to become strong, profitable and competitive units. He is recognized as a leader in major national and local non-profit organizations and has led strategic planning and development efforts for large and diverse groups. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas and an MBA from the University of Delaware.