News Article

FSW Guest Speaker to Discuss Late Husband's Entrepreneurship

Sep 21, 2015

Maria Tobin, wife of the late entrepreneur and author William J. Tobin, will present her husband’s work and legacy to FSW students on September 23 from 6-7 p.m. in room U-102 of the Thomas Edison (Lee) Campus.

William J. Tobin’s book, “Confessions of a Compulsive Entrepreneur and Inventor,” is required reading for FSW’s Introduction to Entrepreneurship class and serves as an example of best practices for students interested in starting their own business, computer programming, or a combination of both fields. 

Tobin’s work has been integral in the development of computer and Internet applications over the last three decades after he founded PC Flowers, the first e-commerce company, in 1988. Over his long and pioneering career, Tobin obtained 15 product and software patents, as well as starting, managing, and selling ten technology-based businesses. His ventures have generated millions of dollars worldwide.

Inc. Magazine named Tobin Entrepreneur of the Year. He was also honored as one of the Top 100 Marketing Executives by Ad Age magazine and Man of the Year by the International Teleconferencing Association. Tobin passed away on December 7, 2013.

The FSW Foundation and School of Business and Technology are co-hosting the event, which will be of particular interest to students and faculty in business or computer science programs, as well as those exploring cross-disciplinary studies.

Light refreshments and a professional networking opportunity will follow the presentation. Learn more about the FSW School of Business and Technology at www.fsw.edu/sobt. Find out how the FSW Foundation is improving the college’s quality of education at www.fsw.edu/foundation.

About the FSW Foundation:

Since 1966, the Florida SouthWestern State College Foundation has been enhancing the quality of higher education for FSW students and faculty. On average, the FSW Foundation has awarded more than $1.2 million for student scholarships and $700,000 in academic support to the college annually since 2011. The Foundation’s focus is attracting and managing private contributions from individuals, organizations, businesses and other private foundations to support the college’s mission. To learn more about the non-profit, tax-exempt FSW Foundation or to make a gift, visit www.fsw.edu/foundation.

Last Updated: September 21, 2015