ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARD
Paul M. Stillmank, Eng ’85
Milwaukee
Paul’s life-long dream was to be a founder and CEO of a company. When he launched 7Summits in 2009, little did he know that in just 10 years the experience-centered technology and consulting company would grow beyond his wildest dreams and become one of Inc.’s 5000 Fastest Growing Companies in the U.S., and a Best and Brightest Company to Work For in the nation, a recognition from the National Association for Business Resources.
Paul attributes much of his business success to his Marquette experience, which he says provided him with an education grounded in empathy and the servant-based leadership that is the cornerstone of his thinking. “Employees don’t work for me; they work with me. Life is a mission; my beliefs are the guiding light and giving back to others is a reward above all else,” he says.
When not at 7Summits, Paul is involved in raising money for Special Olympics bowling. “My son, Daniel, is autistic. Saturday mornings, you’ll find me at Brown Deer Lanes with Daniel and his two younger brothers, matching donations and cheering him on,” he says.
Over the years, Paul has won plenty of awards but says this one is special. “It goes back to my roots and forces a deeper reflection of both the failures and successes in my life. Marquette teaches us to reach for excellence, have the faith to get up and keep going when life knocks you down, be an example to others, and serve with a purpose. This award encourages me to do just that and inspire others to do the same,” he says.
Fun Fact:
With the help of an engineered upgrade to his squirt gun, Paul entered a “friendly” game with more than 100 McCormick Hall students and won. “It came down to me and a daunting ROTC student in a water shoot-out on the 10th floor. My amped-up squirt gun pulled off a long-distance shot that won the game,” he says.