The Liebowitz Entrepreneur Program

How We Started

  • Ted & Joseph Liebowitz

The Liebowitz Entrepreneur Program was started by Brooklyn College Alumnus Ted Liebowitz, Class of 79, and his dad Joseph, a former NYC Police officer, as a way to give back to the college. They were joined by Brooklyn College business professors Hervé Queneau and Clifton Clarke.

About Ted Liebowitz:

  • Ted in Prague on the set of the movie, The Illusionist

Ted Liebowitz is a serial entrepreneur with multiple interests in the areas of entertainment and telecommunications. Born and bred in Brooklyn, New York, he was graduated from Brooklyn College with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.

After practicing accounting in his own firm for several years, he entered the world of business, first in the telecommunications and call center industries. An early pioneer in the telecom business, Mr. Liebowitz was one of the first entrepreneurs to recognize the opportunities presented by the toll-free 800-number industry, credit card processing, and product fulfillment. His nationwide call centers developed telecom programs that have provided operator services, content, credit card billing, collection, processing, and fulfillment for over 1,000 companies both in the U.S. and abroad.

Starting in 1993 and still continuing, he has developed cutting-edge technology and innovative software applications for Internet and mobile applications, including secure automated credit card billing services, live video conferencing, credit card fraud protection, and shopping cart commerce applications, all now widely used across the Internet. He is also one of the largest owners of domain names (URLs) in the world. Since 1993 he has amassed thousands of names and continues to buy, sell, and auction web addresses on a daily basis.

In 2002 he partnered with Eytan Sugarman and hip-hop producer Timberland to launch the nightclub Suede. An exquisitely designed two-floor lounge, Suede became known for its decor, its ambiance, and its reputation for being the choice of countless celebrities, models, and New York’s social elite. Justin Timberlake, Nelly, Pamela Anderson, and Leonardo DiCaprio have all dropped by Suede. Before closing its doors in 2006, Suede was praised by the media and customers alike as one of New York’s hottest nightclubs in nightlife history.

In 2004, Ted started Contagious Entertainment, a production company, which focuses on independent film, television, and multimedia projects. Ted is an executive producer of the Academy Award-nominated film The Illusionist, starring Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, and Jessica Biel. He is also the executive producer for the movie Gray Matter, a romantic comedy with an ensemble cast including Heather Graham, Bridget Moynahan, Tom Cavanagh, Molly Shannon, Sissy Spacek, and Alan Cumming.

In 2005, Ted started Premium Rate Mobile, which specializes in mobile entertainment programs. Utilizing his 20 years of experience in the telecom industry, he launched a suite of mobile products that offers wallpapers, ringtones, chatlines, and various entertainment programs throughout the world.

In 2007, he brought his entrepreneurship knowledge and skills back to his alma mater, Brooklyn College, where he established The Liebowitz Entrepreneur Program. Here select students learn the art of entrepreneurship. (http://www.liebowitzentrepreneurprogram.com)

In 2007, he invested in Justin Timberlake’s Southern Hospitality restaurant, along with partner Eytan Sugarman. The company currently has two restaurants and will be franchising others in the near future. (http://southernhospitalitybbq.com/) One Republic’s Ryan Tedder will be opening the first franchises.

In 2010 Mr. Liebowitz began investing in Broadway productions, they include: Tony Award-winner, The Book of Mormon, The Mountaintop, Relatively Speaking, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, Evita, The Heiress, Lucky Guy, Annie, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Cinderella, I’ll Eat You Last, Big Fish, The Color Purple, After Midnight, Rocky, Mothers and Sons, The Last Ship, This is our Youth , On The Town, A Delicate Balance, An American in Paris, Hamilton, Dames at Sea and On Your Feet.

  • Brooklyn College Professors Herve Quenueau and Cliffton Clarke with Ted Liebowitz

About Hervé Queneau:

Hervé Queneau is professor and deputy chairman in the Department of Finance and Business Management. He is a research associate at the University of Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne (IDHE). His teaching interests include human resource management, workplace diversity, international business, research methods for business and managerial economics. He has extensively published on gender and diversity issues in the workplace and labor market. He is the recipient of the 2011 Claire Tow Distinguished Teacher Award. This College-wide award recognizes a senior member of the faculty for outstanding qualities as a teacher and a role model to students and other faculty.

Education:
Ph.D., University of Paris IX Dauphine – 1996 (Economics)

M.A., University of Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne – 1991 (Economics)

Areas of Expertise:
Hervé Queneau is an expert in gender/diversity issues in the labor market and international business. His research has appeared in notable journals, such as Applied Economics, Applied Economics Letters, Labor Studies Journal, Journal of Collective Negotiations, Economics Bulletin and Forum for Social Economics. He is on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Collective Negotations. He is bilingual in English and French.

About Clifton Clarke:

Clifton Clarke, Economics, holds an M.A. in economics/accounting from Brooklyn College and an Ed.D. in higher education administration from Columbia University. His previous post was at La Guardia Community College, where he was associate dean for institutional planning and professor of accounting and management. His research focuses on the role of strategic management in organizational renewal, and he is writing a book on dynamic planning for mature organizations.