BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Wil Schroter is a serial entrepreneur.  At age 19, while a still a student at the Ohio State University, he began his first company, Blue Diesel, an interactive marketing agency serving clients such as Best Buy, BMW, and Eli Lilly.  As CEO of the company, Wil grew Blue Diesel from his dorm room beginnings to over $65 million in capitalized billings in just over 5 years without investment.  At the end of 2002, Wil sold Blue Diesel to Columbus-based, inChord, an advertising agency holding company.

In 1997, while still leading Blue Diesel’s growth, Wil also co-founded Kelltech Internet Services a technology consulting company based in Cleveland, Ohio.  Kelltech was sold three years later to GTCR, a venture capital company, for $10 million. 

Two years later Wil became a finalist and recipient of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award as well as the U.S. Small Business Association Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

In 2002, Wil and a number of internationally recognized artists formed Atomica, a non-profit organization dedicated to the education and exhibition of digital art.  Today Wil serves as the Executive Director of the organization.

Earlier the same year Wil joined Franklin University's Science and Technology Advisory Board to help chart the course of education among students as well as provide insight as to the needs of today's technology workforce.

As of 2003, Wil has joined Swapalease.com as its Chief Executive Officer to aggressively lead the company’s market dominant position as the world's largest on-line automotive leasing marketplace.  The company, founded by the Joseph Auto Group, a $570 million automotive dealer network, allows consumers to advertise their leased vehicles on the Web site which attracts buying consumers looking to take over short term, no money down leases.

Also in 2003, Wil was named Ohio Businessperson of the Year among a distinguished and notable group of industry leaders including Dave Thomas, Robert Lazarus, John B. McCoy and Richard Pogue.

Within his community Wil is an active proponent of technology, marketing and entrepreneurship.  He frequently speaks at public events about starting and growing high potential businesses.  He is also a professional mentor to over 100 students at the Ohio State University where he attended college.