Silicon Valley entrepreneur to serve as executive-in-residence for University Residences

Art Norins' career arc has included 200 nights a year in hotels while traveling to more than 100 countries on six continents, but this month he'll stay somewhere he hasn't since he was a freshman in college -- a Purdue residence hall. Norins, a hyper-growth Internet company CEO, is returning to his alma mater Nov. 20-24 to spend five days on campus serving as a speaker and mentor to students in the role of executive-in-residence for University Residences.

During his stay in Third Street Suites, Norins will meet with a number of student groups from University Residences, the Honors College, and the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, for whom he serves on the HTM Strategic Alliance Council. Events include an entrepreneurial contest inspired by the ABC reality show "Shark Tank," a Purdue women's volleyball match, and various informal meals and activities with students.

Norins, 47, brings 25 years of entrepreneurial experience since taking an entirely commission-based sales job when he graduated from Purdue with an industrial engineering degree. He then started his own company, Sandium, in 2001, selling and servicing commercial air-conditioning systems all over the world, including at U.S. embassies. His millions of miles of travel experience led him to start his current business, Nor1, which brokers premium hotel upgrades at marginal costs for travelers through its patented eStandby Upgrade. Nor1's company slogan is"Upgrade Your Life," which is the message Norins hopes to deliver as executive-in-residence at Purdue.

"I'm all about helping others -- how do we raise all ships?" Norins says. "When I was at Purdue I was pretty clueless. I said hey, 'I want to start my own company,' but I didn't know what to do with my life. I didn't know how to get to where I wanted to go. I was really fortunate to have some really good mentors."

Norins is also very active in international philanthropy, including service on the board of the Indiana Institute of Global Health, which leads a consortium of universities in a health care initiative in Kenya.

"I love people, and I believe each and every person on this planet is a unique instrument in a symphony. I want to help them be the best they can be because if each of and every one of us is the best we can be, it's a beautiful symphony," Norins says.

Writer: Matt Watson, 765-496-3572, watso101@purdue.edu