September 10, 2009 – News & Views

John Gordon ’76		Spencer Gordon
Photos courtesy of John ’76 and Spencer Gordon

John ’76 and Spencer Gordon to Speak at Woltemade Center Event
Father and son to discuss the future of biodiesel fuel and the world of entrepreneurship

The Woltemade Center for Economics, Business & Entrepreneurship will welcome OWU alumnus and trustee John Gordon ’76 and his son, Spencer, to discuss “From the Grease Trap to the Gas Cap: The Case for Biodeisel” on September 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the Benes Rooms at Hamilton-Williams Campus Center.

John Gordon, who majored in politics and government at OWU, is a successful Atlanta entrepreneur and founder, president, and CEO of Gordon Document Products. He acknowledges that his son was the catalyst for the formation of the new company, Perfect Circle Renewable Energy, founded in 2007. Beginning with the idea of fueling only John Gordon’s fleet of trucks with biodiesel, the two now expect to transform 50,000 gallons of restaurant waste oil from 125 Atlanta-area restaurants to biodiesel fuel this year.

According to an article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Spencer Gordon credits his father with fanning Spencer’s interest in entrepreneurship, while John Gordon credits his son with raising John’s consciousness about the need for earth-friendly, socially useful products. The two are building a successful business that capitalizes on the gifts, talents, and skills of each.

“John and Spencer also will be appearing in my senior seminar on strategic management and my Entrepreneurship class, as well as meeting informally with a number of students,” says John Boos, director of the Woltemade Center.

The event at Hamilton-Williams Campus Center is free, open to the public, and will be streamed live online.

– Gretchen Hirsch