January 23, 2001 Dale P. Sparber '71, speaker Vice President, Provident Bank, Cleveland, OH President, Shorn Enterprises, Inc., Cleveland, OH Partner and Director, Cheboygan Tap and Tool, MI "Mr. Sparber was direct, to the point and precise", said Thiel sophomore Mike Boiano of the first speaker for the 2001 Business Honors Seminar. Dale P. Sparber, a 1971 Thiel College graduate, shared with current Thiel students about his success in both the banking industry and his entrepreneurial ventures. In his current position of Vice President of Provident Bank he is responsible for new business development in Ohio and Pennsylvania. He is also President of Shorn Enterprises, Inc. which is a multi-location hair salon operator. Cheboygan Tap and Tool, a manufacturer of specialty engineered metal threading tools for high production applications located in Michigan, is the third of Mr. Sparber's current endeavors. "When asked what he was most proud of, Mr. Sparber replied his play 'Smokey Joe's Café' that he and his associates put together on Broadway. He also said he was proud of the business Cheboygan Tap and Tool because of its blue collar ethic." - Malcolm Beall, senior business major "Sparber recalled the development of his career in banking, all the way from trainee in a check processing department to his current VP position. He had an interesting story to tell - one that has had many obstacles that he successfully overcame. Mr. Sparber shared with us his tips for surviving in the very turbulent career path he chose." -Tamara Gruskiewicz, senior accounting & business major "Mr. Sparber stressed that the structure of the deal is the most important thing to consider when you are entering into a venture. Any deal can be made if you structure it correctly." - Lisa Kirschner, senior accounting & business major "I began to understand how Mr. Sparber attained success when he said, 'Do not reinvent the wheel, just find more effective ways to use it.' To me this means just because a product is not just right, do not throw it away, try to build on it and improve it. A true entrepreneur looks for opportunities where someone else has not." - Wayne Uzarski, junior business major