Shidler College names Peter Rowan to lead its Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship

Peter Rowan
Peter Rowan, Executive Director of the Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship (PACE)

The Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa is proud to announce the appointment of Peter Rowan as the new executive director of the Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship (PACE) effective August 1, 2017. Rowan will replace Susan Yamada who will be leading the renovation and development of the Atherton YMCA, purchased by UH Foundation in 2017, into a Center for Innovation. The Center will support entrepreneurial education and the commercialization of University-generated innovations.

Rowan is currently the angel-in-residence at XLR8UH, a startup accelerator program that assists UH entrepreneurs. He was previously the corporate vice president of new ventures at Coinstar from 2001-2010. During his tenure, the company grew from $150 million to $1.3 billion in revenue through the establishment of new businesses and innovative commercial initiatives like its DVD kiosks, money transfer, and e-payment programs. At Coinstar, Rowan led more than 20 acquisitions, investments and divestitures, including its investment in Redbox.

Rowan is a writer, entrepreneur and educator. He has taught entrepreneurship and new venture strategy since 2005. Rowan was involved with PACE and served as a judge and mentor for several of its programs and competitions. He is also active in the entrepreneurial community in Hawai‘i as an advisor, lecturer, mentor and investor. Since 2010, Rowan has written numerous works of fiction including a novel, Inner Circle, in 2012.

“We are extremely fortunate to have Peter lead our entrepreneurship center,” said Vance Roley, dean of the Shidler College of Business. “He brings years of practical experience as an entrepreneur, and is well connected to the high-tech and entrepreneur communities in Hawai‘i and on the U.S. mainland.”

Rowan received a BA in Russian history from Cornell University, and an MA in international policy studies and an MBA from Middlebury Institute of International Studies.