JMI + JMC Timeline

A Legacy of Innovation

From a visionary endowment in 1995 from Jim Moran and The Jim Moran Foundation, to becoming the nation’s first stand-alone college of entrepreneurship, the journey of the Jim Moran Institute and the Jim Moran College is a testament to bold ideas and enduring impact. Explore our timeline below to see how a commitment to shaping future business leaders evolved into a top-ranked, world-class institution over the past three decades.

1995
  • Jim Moran and JM Family Enterprises, Inc. endowed the entrepreneurship program at FSU’s College of Business with a total of $1,000,001 in an agreement signed by Jim Moran and Dean Mel Stith that created:
    • Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship
    • Four professorships in the College of Business, including one designated as the director
    • Annual Conference on Entrepreneurship
    • The Jim Moran Lecture Hall
    • Scholarship support for admitted graduates from Youth Automotive Training Center Scholarship and African American Achiever Youth Award recipients
    • Jerry Osteryoung named Executive Director of the Jim Moran Institute
1996
  • Jim Moran Scholars’ Program established which awards a four-year, needs-based scholarship to two students each year to attend FSU with funding provided through JMI.
May
  • May 2: The Jim Moran Institute hosted its first annual conference on entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurs Managing Growth, at the Broward County Convention Center in Ft. Lauderdale. More than 200 entrepreneurs attended. Speakers included Jim Moran, Wayne Huizenga, and College of Business Dean Melvin Stith.
1997
February
  • February 19: Jim Moran presented with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree from Florida State University.
May
  • May 1: 2nd Annual Jim Moran Institute Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards® conference held at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.
1998
March
  • March 12: 3rd annual Jim Moran Institute Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards® Showcase.
December
  • December 29: Jim and Jan Moran, as well as JM Family Enterprises, provided an additional $2 million dollars to The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship in order to expand their service to students including:
    • Funding for two MBA graduate assistant stipends
    • Funding for the Entrepreneurial Certificate Program
    • Support for the JMI High school Entrepreneurial Showcase
    • Implementation of the Regional Annual Conference
    • Provisions for an Entrepreneurial Scholarship
1999
March
  • March 19: 4th Annual Jim Moran Institute Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards® Showcase.


2000
March
  • March 31: 5th Annual Jim Moran Institute Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards® Showcase.


2001
March
  • March 23: 6th Annual Jim Moran Institute Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards® Showcase.
June
  • June 4-8: Jim Moran Institute held its first Entrepreneurship Camp in Tallahassee.
2002
  • “Writing Business Plans” course added to the Entrepreneurial Certificate Program curriculum.
April
  • April 12: 7th Annual Jim Moran Institute Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards® Showcase held at the University Center Club in Tallahassee.
June
  • June 3-7: Jim Moran Institute Entrepreneurship Camp held in Tallahassee.


2003
  • Several changes were made to the Youth Outreach and Scholarship programs:
    • Jim Moran Institute’s High School Entrepreneurial Showcase was replaced by Junior Achievement
    • A partnership was established with the Capitol City Chamber of Commerce
    • Leadership Tallahassee
    • Extended the effective length of an awarded Scholarship from one to two years
March
  • March 21: 8th Annual Showcase was held at the University Center Club in Tallahassee.


2004
March
  • March 21: 9th Annual Showcase was held at the University Center Club in Tallahassee.
2005
  • Met with representatives from Chile and India on microloans.
January–February
  • Hosted a Russian delegation of 11 businessmen, plus 1 facilitator and 1 interpreter, for a 3-week visit to receive training in American business operations.
April
  • April 26: 10th Annual Showcase held at the University Center Club in Tallahassee.


2006
March
  • March 28: 11th Annual Showcase held at the University Center Club.


2007
January
  • A second, annual graduating class was added to the Entrepreneurship Major, bringing the eventual number of graduates to 80 per year.
April
  • April 10: 12th Annual Showcase.
  • April 24: Jim Moran passes away at the age of 88.
2008
February
  • February 1: The Jim Moran Institute hosted its first on-campus celebration for entrepreneurship with the advent of “eDay.” Featured 9 entrepreneurs, student problem-solving groups, and a Progressive Luncheon.
June
  • An additional $1.8 million gift is endowed to the Jim Moran Institute by Jan Moran, The Jim Moran Foundation, and JM Family Enterprises, Inc. to help FSU build a world-class undergraduate entrepreneurship major and expand training programs into South Florida.
  • June 8-17: JMI hosted first Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV).
July
  • Jerry Osteryoung steps down as Executive Director and assumes the position of Director of Outreach. Jim Combs is named as the new Executive Director.
August
  • Jim Dever was hired as the first Entrepreneur in Residence.
2009
  • A new 3-year curriculum was established; program returned to a single graduating class of 40 students per year.
  • Jim Moran Institute Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards® Showcase not held this year.
  • The entrepreneurship certificate was added to the curriculum for business majors.
March
  • March 1: Jerry Osteryoung named Director of Outreach (part-time).
  • March 20: 2nd Annual “eDay” Celebration.
June
  • June 8-17: JMI hosted EBV Residency Program.
September
  • September 21-25: “eDay” evolves from a one-day event to a week of activities and is renamed “eWeek.”


2010
  • The entrepreneurship certificate added to the curriculum for non-business majors.
April
  • April 21: The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship celebrates its 15 Year Anniversary.
June & July
  • Jim Combs steps down as Executive Director.
  • June 9-17: JMI hosted EBV Residency Program.
  • Tim Holcomb named Executive Director.
September & November
  • September 20-24: “eWeek” Celebration.
  • September 23: Ribbon cutting for the Student Business Incubator.
  • November 9: 1st Minority Business Conference held on the Broward College Campus.
2011
April
  • $4.25 million lead donation received from Jan Moran and The Jim Moran Foundation to establish “The Entrepreneurial University.”
  • April 4: Ron Frazier hired as second Entrepreneur in Residence.
June & August
  • June 8-15: JMI hosted EBV Residency Program.
  • August 4: Associate Director Betty Presnell retires.
  • August 25: 1st Advice Straight Up-Tallahassee (host). Speaker: Dana Williams (Southwest Airlines).
September & October
  • September 16-23: 2nd Annual “eWeek.”
  • October 20: Advice Straight Up-Tallahassee. Speakers: Chris Brogan and Rami Jabaji.


2012
February & March
  • February 19-26: JMI hosted first inaugural EBV-Families Residency Program.
  • March 17: 2nd Annual Minority Business Conference held in Hallandale Beach.
April & May
  • April 19: Advice Straight Up-Tallahassee. Speaker: Janet Gurwitch.
  • JMI Director of Outreach, Jerry Osteryoung, retires.
  • JMI Assistant Director of Outreach, Barbara Lay, leaves.
June & September & November
  • June 18: Jennifer Kovach hired as Director of South Florida Outreach.
  • June 19-26: JMI hosted EBV Residency Program.
  • September 6-7: Small Business Leadership Forum held in Tampa.
  • September 20: Advice Straight Up-Tallahassee. Speaker: Colin Brown.
  • November 5: Mike Campbell named Director of North Florida Outreach.
2013
  • The “Certificate in Entrepreneurship” was replaced by a “Minor in Entrepreneurship” effective with the fall semester.
February & May
  • February 19-26: JMI hosted EBV-Families Residency Program.
  • May 23: Advice Straight Up-Tallahassee. Speaker: Ron Busby.
June & August & November
  • June 4-11: JMI hosted EBV Residency Program.
  • June 29: South Florida Business & Leadership Conference in Ft. Lauderdale.
  • August 10: Advice Straight Up-Amelia Island. Speaker: Brad Pierce.
  • JMI hosted the first annual 7 Under 30 speaker series.


2014
January
  • The Entrepreneurship, Strategy & Information Systems (ESIS) Department starts operations with Dr. Susan Fiorito as the department chair.
  • January 30: Director Randy Blass named Executive Director of The Jim Moran Institute.
June & September
  • June 3-10: JMI hosted EBV Residency Program.
  • June 27: South Florida Business & Leadership Conference in Ft. Lauderdale.
  • September 10-17: JMI hosted EBV-Families Residency Program.


2015
March & May
  • March 17: Advice Straight Up-Fort Lauderdale. Speaker: Zalmi Duchman.
  • May 21: Advice Straight Up-Tallahassee. Speaker: Joe Abraham.
June & October
  • June 10-17: EBV Residency Program.
  • June 24: South Florida Business & Leadership Conference.
  • October 16: Advice Straight Up-Tallahassee. Speaker: Steve Forbes.
December
  • December 8: Advice Straight Up-Fort Lauderdale. Speaker: Phyllis Newhouse.
  • December 18: Florida State University announces the largest gift in its history — $100 million — from Jan Moran and The Jim Moran Foundation to establish the Jim Moran School of Entrepreneurship (JMS).
2016
  • InNOLEvation® Center for Student Engagement moves from JMI to the JMS.
February & June & November
  • Susan S. Fiorito, Ph.D., is named the Director of JMS.
  • June 7-14: JMI hosted EBV Residency Program.
  • June 22: 6th Annual Small Business Leadership Conference in Fort Lauderdale.
  • November 8: JMI hired Melissa Roberts as Managing Director of Operations.


2017
February–March & May
  • Feb 23 – Mar 3: JMI hosted EBV-Families Residency Program.
  • JMI opens Jacksonville office for Northeast Florida programs.
June & August
  • June 6-13: EBV Residency Program.
  • June 12: Stephanie Royal hired as Associate Director, Jacksonville.
  • June 21-22: 7th Annual Small Business Leadership Conference.
  • First cohort of 80 students begin studies to receive BS or BA degree from JMS In Commercial or Social Entrepreneurship.


2018
  • JMS launched the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Learning Community in the Deviney Residence Hall.
  • JMS holds first Entrepreneurship High School Summer Camp.
February & March
  • Jim Moran Building opens in downtown Tallahassee.
  • March 3: First Seminole 100 celebration held.
August & October
  • August 1-3: First Orlando Small Business Leadership Conference (SBLC).
  • Additional JMS staff/faculty move into the Roderick Shaw Building. Retail Entrepreneurship is added as a major.
  • Historic Textiles and Costume Collection came under JMC.
  • October 23-27: First EBV-Accelerate Residency Program hosted.
2019
  • JMI opens the Tampa office for Central Florida programs.
  • JMC celebrates 25 years of retail scholarship dinners.
January & March
  • Shane Smith hired as Director of Central Florida Operations.
  • JMS wins the USASBE Emerging Program Award and GCEC Exceptional Activities in Entrepreneurship Across Disciplines Award.
  • March 2: JMI hosted 2nd annual Seminole 100.
June & August & September
  • June 26-28: Orlando SBLC.
  • MS in Textiles and Apparel Entrepreneurship launched by JMS.
  • September 16-20: EBV-Families Residency Program.
October & November
  • JMS to launch first podcast episode - The InNOLEvation® Mindset Podcast.
  • JMS renamed to the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship (JMC). It is the nation’s first stand-alone entrepreneurship college.
  • Susan S. Fiorito, Ph.D., is named Dean of the JMC.
  • November 4-8: EBV-Accelerate Residency Program.


2020
February & June
  • February 22: 3rd annual Seminole 100.
  • SBLC canceled due to COVID; virtual “Navigating Through COVID-19” held.
August & Sept-Oct
  • MS programs in Hospitality Entrepreneurship and Product Development Entrepreneurship begin.
  • Sept 14 – Oct 23: EBV-RISE Online Program to assist Veteran businesses during COVID.


2021
  • Certificate program in Franchise Automotive Entrepreneurship added.
  • JMC’s Retail Experiences and Innovation Studio opens.
  • ThermaNOLE Comfort Lab® opens with dynamic sweating thermal manikin, "ANDI".
February & March & June & August
  • February 18: Seminole 100 Online.
  • March 22 – April 30: EBV-RISE Online Program.
  • June 11-13: SBLC in Orlando.
  • JMC adds STEM entrepreneurship major.
2022
  • JMC officially welcomed the Blackstone LaunchPad® Program.
January & February
  • Logan Thorne hired as News & Public Affairs Coordinator.
  • JMC hosted the USASBE Annual Conference.
  • February 19: Seminole 100.
April & May & June
  • April 4-8: EBV-Families Residency Program.
  • April 13: 25th Anniversary Celebration (delayed by COVID).
  • Marina Lickson hired as Tallahassee Program Manager.
  • June 1-3: SBLC in Orlando.


2023
February & April & June
  • February 25: Seminole 100.
  • April 24-28: EBV-Families Residency Program.
  • June 19-21: SBLC in Orlando.
August & September
  • JMC launched the Combined Pathways Program.
  • Dr. Meredith McQuerry awarded a $1.5M grant from FEMA.
October
  • JMC Launched “Student Made” at FSU.
  • October 18: JMI moves from College of Business to JMC.
  • October 23-27: EBV-Accelerate Residency Program.
  • Wendy Plant named Assistant Dean for JMI; Kirsten Frandsen named Assistant Dean for JMC.
  • Melissa Roberts named Director of Veterans’ Programs.


2024
  • New Hires across advising, IT, media, research, and faculty.
  • New Dean’s Development Council members: Brooke Evans, Roberto Torres, Daniel London.
January & February & March & April
  • Dr. Eric Liguori named Associate Dean; Dr. Susana Santos hired.
  • Wendy Plant won USASBE Justin G. Longnecker Fellow Award.
  • JMC and JMI sponsor Power Forward.
  • JMI hosts reception for Seminole 100.
  • JMC hosted the ACC Inventure Competition.
  • JMC established a new Podcast Studio.
May & June
  • JMC wins bids to host Strategic Advancement in Management (2025) and GCEC (2026).
  • JMC student Kennedy Joy Foristall won Humanitarian of the Year.
  • Four JMC students recognized as FSU Torchbearers.
  • June 10–14: EBV-Families Residency Program in Jacksonville.
August & October & November
  • JMC launched Creative Arts Entrepreneurship Master’s Program.
  • JMI launched Leon Entrepreneurship and Adversity Program (LEAP).
  • Textile Testing Lab moved to WJB.
  • Dr. Jessica Ridgway Clayton granted U.S. patent for nursing bra clip system.
  • JMC ranks 18th in The Princeton Review for 2025.
  • Dr. Meredith McQuerry appears on NOVA PBS documentary.
2025
  • New Hires: JMI Marketing Manager, advisors, administrators, and faculty.
January & February & March
  • JMC hosts a virtual fireside chat with Marc Lore.
  • JMC participates in Art + Entrepreneurship Expo.
  • JMI hosts Seminole 100 reception.
  • JMC held State of Florida Entrepreneurship Excellence Awards.
  • Dr. Meredith McQuerry finalized 5-year multi-state project on Protective Clothing for Wildland Firefighters.
April & May & June
  • JMI starts Forgotten Coast Small Business Program.
  • FSU & JMC host the 2025 Strategic Advancement in Management Conference.
  • JMI celebrates 30th Anniversary.
  • JMC hosts TOFE Conference.
  • Two JMC students inducted into FSU Torchbearers 100.
  • JMC hosts 11th annual high school summer camp.
  • JMI hosts 14th annual conference.
  • JMI held EBV-Families Residency Program in Jacksonville.
July & August
  • JMC launches partnership with Universal AI University in Mumbai, India.
  • Dr. Jessica Ridgway Clayton named Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies.
  • InNOLEvation® Marketplace launched.
  • JMI begins Accelerate Franklin Entrepreneurship Program (AFEP).
September & October & December
  • JMC hosts first Experiential Classroom Clinic.
  • JMC signed a historic MOU with UNIQLO USA LLC.
  • Dr. Eric Liguori leads “Entrepreneurship in the Age of AI” forum in Thailand.


2026
  • JMC ranked No. 2 in the South, No. 2 in Florida, and 18th overall by The Princeton Review.
  • JMC earned a No. 3 ranking among public institutions on Niche.
February & March
  • JMC revamps annual 7 Under 30 to 5 Under 30.
  • Partnership implemented with Armenian State University of Economics (ASUE).
  • JMC to create first Recent Alumni Board.
  • Lewis Thurston II received Michael Boyce Award.
  • Dr. Susana Santos inducted as a Justin G. Longenecker Fellow of the USASBE.
April & May
  • JMC student Sarah McCourt won Humanitarian of the Year.
  • JMI launching first-ever Small Business Executive Program in Panama City, FL.
  • JMC to partner with Veterans Florida.
August & October
  • JMC to launch West Palm Entrepreneurship & Adversity Program (WPEAP).
  • FSU to host the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (GCEC) Conference (~600 attendees).