cc	first vid >> Jeanan Yasiri: This is	 Entrepreneurialism in Society.	 It's a course that's offered	 through the University	 of Wisconsin School	 of Human Ecology.	 I'm Jeanan Yasiri.	 As we begin today I'd like to	 extend thanks to our partners in	 supporting this course: the UW	 Office of Corporate Relations,	 the UW College of Engineering	 for their technical support,	 and financial support which is	 provided through the Ewing	 Marion Kauffman Foundation	 which is committed to advancing	 academic education	 in entrepreneurship.	 Additionally, we'd like to thank	 our media partners, Wisconsin	 Public Television and their	 University Place crew for taping	 today's lecture.	 I'm so very pleased to introduce	 our special guest today,	 George Gialamas, owner and	 president of the Madison-based	 Gialamas Company.	 The Gialamas Company is a	 commercial real estate	 development company that George	 established along with his	 wife, Candy, in 1975.	 The company's vision and	 philosophy have sparked	 development here in Madison	 that's attracted new people,	 new jobs and promoted economic	 development in our area	 including ownership and	 development of Old Sauk Trails	 Business Park starting in 1986.	 That development has grown to	 over 58 buildings containing	 over 300 companies, occupying	 three million square feet.	 That park's business alone	 employs 12,500 employees,	 creating an annual tax base	 for the city of Madison	 of $350 million.	 George was born and raised in	 Chicago, came to Madison to work	 for IBM where he stayed	 for 14 years.	 He earned his degree in	 philosophy from Marquette	 University which we'll ask him	 about later.	 In 2008, Marquette honored him	 with the Helen Way Klingler	 College of Arts and Sciences	 Distinguished Alumni of the Year	 award.	 Nationally, George received the	 Ellis Island Medal of Honor	 award.	 And today George and Candy	 have long been active in their	 philanthropic community and	 very proud supporters of many	 nonprofit interests including	 the arts and other nonprofit	 interests in Dane County.	 Today we're going to deviate	 from a formal presentation and	 instead enjoy	 a casual conversation	 with George Gialamas.	 So please join me in welcoming	 George today.	 [APPLAUSE]	 George, I am so pleased that you	 were willing to come and chat	 with us, and I want to	 kind of go back.	 I know we're going to talk about	 entrepreneurship, and we're	 going to talk about how it	 relates to students	 that are in the audience.	 But first, you were born in	 Chicago, tell me a little bit	 about your childhood.	 >> George Gialamas: Oh, gosh.	 I can't remember that far back.	 I was born on the south side of	 Chicago for what that's worth.	 And I think it's important,	 because you learned to grow up	 in the streets in those days,	 and I guess you do today,	 to some extent.	 But grew up, we didn't have much	 money, as we are as fortunate	 today, but we learned to do with	 what we had.	 And family was the key thing,	 just like it is, I'm sure, with	 you.	 Family is the most important	 thing.	 It still is today, by the way.	 And it helped me when I was	 growing up in Chicago because	 your family were your friends	 and your compatriots and the	 support that you needed to grow.	 But Chicago was a good training	 ground.	 I think anybody here from	 Chicago or any big city, you	 learn how to stay in your little	 cocoon, is it, I don't think	 that's a proper word, but you	 stay in your little area and you	 grow in that area and you grow	 out of it.	 But I had my first job out of	 there, too.	 You said I came to Madison with	 IBM, I did, but I started in	 Chicago with IBM.	 So they're the ones that moved	 me around the country a lot.	 But I'm talking too much.	 >> No, you're not talking	 too much at all.	 When you were younger and even	 before you went to IBM, had you	 considered what you wanted to do	 when you grew up, as it were?	 Do you even conceive what an	 entrepreneur was?	 >> I don't even know what an	 entrepreneur is today.	 [LAUGHTER]	 I think we're all entrepreneurs,	 folks, we all are.	 I