“We are incredibly excited to have Kent join our team as executive in residence,” said Todd Mooradian, dean of the College of Business. “His in-depth knowledge of both the College of Business and the Louisville business community will deepen and expand our partnerships, help us better serve our city and region, and connect our students to opportunities and insights connecting classroom learning with business practice”

Until last year Oyler, was president and CEO of Greater Louisville Inc., the Metro Louisville Chamber of Commerce. In his six-year tenure at GLI, Oyler led a turnaround which culminated in GLI being named the 2019 Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives Chamber of the Year. Prior to joining GLI, Oyler was a serial entrepreneur, co-founding 20 companies. Among his start-ups was High Speed Access Corp. [NASDAQ: HSAC], which is the largest Kentucky IPO on record. 

Oyler previously served as the CFO of Henry Vogt Company. He has served on more than 50 business and non-profit boards, including the UofL President’s Council and College of Business Advisory Board. Oyler earned bachelor’s and MBA degrees from the UofL College of Business.

“I am very pleased to be able to take on this role and help my alma mater engage with regional employers, many of which I know from my time at GLI,” Oyler said. “Deep business engagement with UofL is a major pillar of GLI’s new strategic plan and the strategic plans of UofL and the College of Business.”

Charasika is CEO of , a mobile platform company that helps colleges and universities engage and communicate with their fans. The award was given at GLI’s in May.

“It is a tremendous honor and honestly it feels really good,” Charasika said. “Because as a fast-growing business you keep your head down all day-every day, giving 100-percent effort to build the best team, culture and company, so an award of this stature is some validation that we are moving in the right direction.”

Charasika is an alum of both the UofL J.B. Speed School of Engineering, where he earned a bachelor of science in chemical engineering, and the UofL College of Business, where he completed his entrepreneurial MBA.

Asked if he’s used what he learned in class during his business career, Charasika answered, “an emphatic yes!”

“I wish I could write a book (and do plan on it one day) on how I have applied many aspects of my learning from UofL to the real world,” he said. “It has been incredible.”

UofL Speed School taught him to be resourceful and think analytically, he said. Classes in psychology taught him to understand himself and others. And the MBA program helped him “weave it all together from financial modeling to investor presentations and raising capital.”

“My time at UofL was invaluable and truly demonstrates that if you follow your passion, study what you love, you will take your education with you for a lifetime,” he said. “And have a tremendous base to build upon.”

And build, he has.

According to GLI, SuperFan U has seen more than 1,000-percent growth in clients and employees since Charasika took over in 2014. It’s now generating more than $1 million in revenue with a full-time staff of 23 and clients around the world.

Charasika said he plans to continue growing SuperFan U as a “technology force” both locally and nationally. He said the company will grow here in Louisville because it can recruit locally developed talent from schools, including UofL.

Meanwhile, he’s continuing to learn and grow as a leader. And he still likes to stay involved with his home campus.

For example, he’s is working with the chemical engineering department, which he said is “doing a great job integrating entrepreneurial thinking in their course work.” SuperFan U hires summer engineering co-op students.

Charasika’s also still very involved with the College of Business. He said he’s done everything — from judging the annual Cardinal Challenge business plan competition, to reviewing business plans for “the next generation of innovators that come out of UofL.”

And that generation gives Charasika a reason to spend even more time on campus.

“Oh,” he added, “and I do have a sophomore who is just starting her career in the College of Business this fall at UofL as a possible Marketing major, which I am very excited about.”