Entrepreneurial and leadership expert to present Heffern Lecture on Nov. 16

Published on Oct. 28, 2026

College of Business and Economics

ASHLAND, Ohio – Entrepreneur and leadership development expert Joe Haddad will share his experiences in building businesses while making a difference in people’s lives when he presents Ashland University’s Gordon E. Heffern Lecture on Christian Ethics in Business on Monday, Nov. 16.

The lecture and luncheon will take place at the John C. Myers Convocation Center. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. for the event, with the program starting at 12:05 p.m.

The event is open to the public. Those interested in attending should RSVP online by Monday, Nov. 2, or email Tara Mowry at tmowry2@ashland.edu.

Haddad serves as the fractional integrator, or chief operating officer (COO), at CultureShoc, a high-performance team building and leadership development firm based in the Greater Cleveland area. There, he works with leadership teams to strengthen their organizations through the Entrepreneurial Operating System. He also leads the firm’s #2 Forum, helping COOs, integrators and second-in-command leaders to grow in their roles and become more effective in serving their organizations.

Haddad’s entrepreneurial journey began while he was a college student at Miami University where he co-founded University Tees (UTees), a custom apparel and promotional merchandise company that is still operating today and serves colleges/universities, churches and other businesses and organizations. He also co-founded The ISI (Iron Sharpens Iron) Life, a nonprofit focused on helping men pursue excellence in five key areas of life: Faith, Family, Faculty (gifting), Fitness and Finances.

Before pursuing entrepreneurship, Haddad worked as a Certified Public Accountant and auditor with Ernst & Young. A Cleveland native, he graduated from Miami University with a double major in accounting and finance.

The annual Gordon E. Heffern Lecture on Christian Ethics in Business is presented by AU’s Dauch College of Business and Economics and the In His Steps Foundation. The series brings guest speakers to campus to share their experiences applying Christian ethics in the business world with AU students, faculty and staff and the Ashland community. Friends and family of Heffern established an endowment at AU to support the ongoing lecture series.

Heffern was a former chairman of the board of the Society Corporation (Key Bank) and president/CEO of The Timken Company. He was also a leader in the philanthropic and civic communities.