Photo: Former LSBE Dean Kjell Knudsen, Former UMD Chancellor Kathryn Martin, Joel Labovitz, Sharon Labovitz
A titan, visionary, optimist, towering ambassador—and, of course, entrepreneur—who was generous, hardworking, loving, and respectful. These are just some of the passionate descriptive words people have said about Duluth icon, Joel Labovitz, who passed away in February at the age of 92.
It is with pride and honor that our business school carries his name. LSBE strives to embody Joel’s hard work, business acumen, entrepreneurism, loyalty, ethics, and overall ethos.
The heartfelt generosity that he and his wife of over 60 years, Sharon, exhibited, is both amazing and inspiring. That generosity coupled with Joel’s spontaneity and the couple’s love of education provided the spark that led to the Labovitz School of Business and Economics.
Joel put forward the idea that Sharon and he help fund the construction of the proposed new business school in an impromptu conversation when he and then chancellor Kathryn Martin bumped into each other at an airport in 2002. After a discussion with their three children—Mark, Anne, and Sarah—the couple provided the gift in 2003 that would launch the construction of the $23 million building. LSBE opened in 2008.
“The Labovitz gift at least in part induced the university’s administration and the legislature to find the additional needed funding,” said Mark. “What Joel liked about it, not the naming so much as the gift, was that that it moved the school and the university forward to get the building constructed.”
"It was a Sharon and Joel Labovitz gift to the University of Minnesota,” Anne said. “Both of my parents valued education tremendously, and both had meaningful ways of giving back to the community. Most of their gifts were anonymous and certainly lower profile. The UMD gift was their largest public donation, and that's the thing they chose to leave their lasting and ongoing mark on.
“Joel felt education was a way to change a person’s situation,” said Anne. “It equalizes the playing field. He wanted the best education possible for folks in all areas of Minnesota. They could then go back to their communities and help them thrive; He felt education was an economic benefit to the communities as well as a benefit to individuals.”
Joel’s gift was the culmination of a lifelong connection to UMD. In fact, he was a member of one of the earliest graduating classes of UMD, attaining a degree in business administration when the university switched from being the Duluth State Teachers College in 1949.
Joel’s most active time as an alum was as an instructor. With his effervescent entrepreneurial spirit and rich business history, he taught some of the first entrepreneurship courses at UMD in the 1980s.
“Entrepreneurship was what he was about,” said Mark. The upper-division seminar course had a small cohort, and Joel taught not only from his experience but also from a plethora of business news. He literally provided a three-ring binder full of current business articles sourced from the local newspaper, the Harvard Business Review, and all things between, Mark explained.
“He immersed students in real-time events, what went dramatically well or dramatically wrong—the entrepreneurs’ decision-making processes, pressures, incentives,” said Mark. "He gave the students a chance to apply their coursework and to put themselves in the moment. It was a good connection to make. The class was very popular. He enabled UMD to develop credible entrepreneurship coursework before other universities.”
At the same time, the school of Business and Economics was protective of its hard-earned Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) international accreditation. Then Dean Kjell Knudson paid a lot of attention to the content and course expectations. It meant a lot to Joel that Kjell trusted him with that responsibility.
Not only was Joel’s name highly regarded in the Duluth area but also throughout the Northland. He pressed to see others recognized. This impulse was pivotal in the creation of an awards program focused on the region’s entrepreneurs. The Joel Labovitz Entrepreneurial Success Awards began in 1992 and continued for 25 years, bringing much deserved attention to the new, expanding, and long-standing businesses founded by dreamers, much like Joel had been.
"I think that it's extremely important to give dignity, status, and recognition to people who take risks," Joel said in a Duluth News Tribune 2012 article. "There are financial, personal, and emotional risks to start something. You can fail. You put your money at risk and often yourself and family. And I think people should be honored and recognized. People need dignity, status, and recognition."
One business owner emotionally commented in his acceptance speech that in his 40 years in business that was the first time anyone had ever said “thank you for what you do.”
Joel demonstrated the efforts and decisions that make businesses successful not only through growing Maurices but also by forming Labovitz Enterprises and Lion Hotel Group.
“We don’t talk about good management as much as should,” said Mark. “Joel trusted people and prepared them for responsibility. He let them perform, understanding that there was more than one way to do things. How they did it didn’t matter if they accomplished the goal. As long as they did it honestly and fairly, he supported them.”
Joel valued his employees’ input, promoting and paying them well, regardless of gender.
“He had an ability to recognize potential in people,” said Anne. “He was a proponent of believing in yourself, a fan of risk-taking in a tolerable setting, and the light that allowed people to see their capabilities. He’d see it before they would. He helped them achieve their potential, and that’s a huge gift.”
His strong ties to UMD and LSBE continued over the years—being named a distinguished alumnus, delivering the 1988 commencement speech, and being on the LSBE Dean’s Advisory Committee.
The School has been continuing to honor the Labovitz name through its educational offerings, programs, and experiential learning.
“LSBE has been willing to consider—and then actually offer—very innovative programming,” said Mark. “The Marketing Analytics major, Professional Sales major, MBA in Rochester, Financial Markets program, and putting together the classes for the business certificate so that people are teed up to get their MBA are bold, creative, and really good ideas.
“These and other high quality, relevant, and distinctive educational opportunities impressed Joel and have ensured LSBE’s continuing competitiveness. The School has shown an adaptability to create long-term resilience,” added Mark.
Both he and Anne concurred that LSBE’s past, present, and future, had made Joel proud.
REFLECTIONS
Lendley Black
UMD Chancellor
I met Joel Labovitz soon after I became Chancellor of UMD in August of 2010. He was friendly, assertive, and full of probing questions about me, my family, and my plans for UMD. In one of our subsequent visits during my first year, he gave me a list of people in Duluth who I needed to meet: business leaders, potential donors, and influential UMD supporters. These conversations and interactions continued over the next ten-and-a-half years, as Joel continued to advise me and provide support.
When my wife, Connie, and I visited with Joel and Sharon in La Jolla, every morning Joel would circle articles in the newspapers he read, and we would discuss the issues that caught his attention in business, politics, and society. He was an avid reader, and we talked about the books he was reading. Joel took an interest in Connie’s work in Montessori early childhood education, and he asked her many questions and discussed the importance of educating young children. Although Joel was tremendously successful in business, his interests in issues and people were wide and deep.
Joel shared many stories about the founding of Maurices and imaginative things they did to keep up with changing trends and customer interests. He was a keen entrepreneur and knew what it took to sustain business success over time. This was also true of his other business ventures after he sold Maurices.
In spite of his business successes, Joel was most proud of Sharon and their family. I heard more stories about grandchildren than business ventures and about the incredible things that Mark, Anne, and Sarah were doing.
Many current and former UMD students, faculty, and staff were fortunate to learn from Joel and experience his humaneness first hand. Thanks to his and Sharon’s generosity, the Labovitz School of Business and Economics will continue its distinctive and innovative approach to education, including a focus on entrepreneurship.
Amy B. Hietapelto
LSBE Dean
When I first saw our spectacular, award-winning Labovitz School of Business and Economics building, I was spellbound by its perfect suitability as a learning space for our students. I looked forward greatly to meeting Joel and Sharon Labovitz, whose incredible generosity had made this building a reality. Entrepreneurial and innovative, Joel’s personal values matched well with our school’s vision. His business philosophy, calculated risk-taking, and leadership style meshed well with my own values and beliefs. Joel and Sharon believed strongly in the transformational effects of education, and this belief was woven throughout their engagement with LSBE. We are deeply grateful for his and Sharon’s commitment to our students’ ongoing success and their personal involvement, on so many levels, with the business school. We are proud to carry their name on our Labovitz School of Business and Economics.
Joel always loved a good story and a great meal; he told many, and he treated me to many. One of his favorite stories was how he met Sharon, and he never tired of telling it to me. Joel was an entertainer, a businessperson, an educator, a mentor and a friend. Joel cared deeply about his family, business, employees, community, UMD, the business school, and in making a difference in the lives of others. Joel and Sharon embraced me, and welcomed me into their family and circle of friends. I cannot thank Joel and Sharon enough for their hospitality and generosity. Joel and Sharon’s philanthropy transformed lives. Although Joel is no longer with us in person, he has left his footprints on the hearts of many. He is deeply missed, but his legacy lives on.
Kathryn Martin
UMD Chancellor, 1995-2010
I met Joel in 1995, shortly after arriving in Duluth. I was invited to golf with some UMD alums and to have dinner. During a ride in the cart with Joel I quickly became aware of Joel’s wonderful sense of humor, his willingness to give advice and being somewhat outspoken! These attributes were very enjoyable, and generally, the advice was humorous and helpful!
At the dinner, I met Sharon, Joel’s wife. Immediately after my arrival, I attended an art opening of the work of Anne Labovitz. After those unofficial introductions and very enjoyable time, I looked forward to spending more time with Joel and Sharon.
I very much admired his entrepreneurial perspective on business, as well as his adventuresome sense of life and attitude about hard work. Joel and Sharon traveled the world, absorbing a variety of artistic concepts. You can’t travel the world as they did, collect wonderful and diverse art without that affecting your thinking on change and risk. And Joel’s attitude toward business was a willingness to risk, to change, and to help others. And he was very successful at all of this!
Joel would want the graduates of LSBE to know success required hard work and the willingness to absorb as much experience about types of business and styles of management and leadership. For Joel, when you left a business experience, that business should be flexible to change, stronger and growing.
Joel was very proud of the Labovitz Entrepreneurial Awards, and when he could, he returned to Duluth for the awards luncheon. Many start-up companies in the Duluth community received those awards and are still contributing to the community!
I loved being with Joel and Sharon, absorbing Joel’s often impossible—but worth considering—suggestions. The challenge of golfing with Joel was knowing his suggestions about golf, UMD, politics, Duluth, and life would continue throughout the golf game—just as his interest and desire for your success and his love of family, Duluth, and UMD were always present!
Kjell Knudsen
LSBE Dean, 1998-2013
My early interaction with Joel Labovitz was as the Director of the UMD Center for Economic Development in the wake of a conference hosted by the Blandin Foundation. Joel was interested in recognizing local and regional entrepreneurs. He felt strongly that such recognition would increase respect for entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial activity in our region. These conversations led to the annual Labovitz Entrepreneurial Success Awards. As it turned, out Mr. Labovitz was absolutely right—over the next 25+ years, the awards event drew thousands of participants who celebrated local and regional entrepreneurs from the entire region. Joel's vision had a significant impact on the region and Duluth, his hometown. Part of the story is that the first ever course in Entrepreneurship in the School of Business and Economics at UMD was taught by Mr. Labovitz, and he was the first Senior Teaching Fellow in the School after being encouraged to do so by Dean David A. Vose.
When I became Dean of SBE, the School had grown significantly along with a push for international accreditation and larger, upgraded facilities. In a fateful meeting between the then Chancellor Martin and Joel Labovitz, the Labovitz School of Business and Economics (LSBE) was born as a legacy not only to Joel, but to the Labovitz family. The award-winning named, new facility along with AACSB accreditation have had a substantial positive impact on the School's ability to attract well-qualified faculty, students, and staff. The School's visibility in the state and nationally has also been enhanced by this thoughtful investment that the Labovitz family has made in the education of future entrepreneurs and business leaders attending LSBE.
As I reflect on my years at UMD and especially as Dean of SBE/LSBE I feel blessed that Joel Labovitz and his family were part of my life. How lucky can a man be!
Elaine Hansen
Former Director of UMD’s Center for Economic Development
When I was in high school, I would go into Maurices and look at the clothing. Joel was an active manager at the store, and I would see him there, interacting with the staff and customers. Much later, we became acquainted with each other through my work at the City of Duluth, State of Minnesota, UMD, and the various boards that I served on.
Through the Joel Labovitz Entrepreneurial Success Awards, we grew strong respect and a friendship. The awards event was Joel’s idea. In wanting to honor the entrepreneurs he said, “Nothing happens except for the initiative of a single individual.” He allowed his name to be used, which is something people do not consider—using someone’s name requires that you recognize the ideals of that person.
When he was able to attend, Joel took a very active part in what he wanted in that year’s event. Otherwise, he would call me after he received news of the event and thank me for its continuation and for keeping his name involved. He was very honored by the event. His son, Mark, was involved in the planning of the events and frequently represented the Labovitz family when Joel wasn’t available.
The recognition and honors we had for Joel during the awards’ 25th anniversary were a surprise to him. That event came together with record attendance and record nominations. Joel and all of his family were able to attend. We received messages from Senator Klobuchar and Representative Nolan who were our Congressional delegation at the time. Mayor Larson even declared it “Joel Labovitz Day.”