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Alum Yordon named to Chicago Area Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame

November 7, 2014
Jeffrey Yordon

Jeffrey Yordon

Northern Illinois University alumnus Jeffrey Yordon, Sagent Pharmaceutical Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, was inducted into the Chicago Area Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame on Thursday, November 6, at an event held at the Chicago History Museum in downtown Chicago.

“While I am honored to have been inducted into this prestigious group, I am also deeply indebted to my current and former colleagues, without whom I wouldn’t be in a position to receive this recognition. I remain invested in driving growth at Sagent as we strive to be one of the most successful, diversified and innovative companies in the industry,” said Yordon. “It is important to note that our company’s success is primarily due to the tireless efforts of our dedicated team in combination with our global network of partners, and is supported by the thriving business community here in the Chicago area.”

Hosted by the Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago (“UIC”) and lauded as the oldest and most prestigious Chicago Area Entrepreneurship Award, the Hall of Fame celebrates renowned entrepreneurs and executives who have had an enduring commercial and social impact, fostered a thriving, diversified economic engine, enhanced the communities in which they operate and brought transformative innovations to life. Past inductees include John W. Baird of Baird & Warner; Robert W. Galvin of Motorola; and Charlie Trotter of Charlie Trotter’s. The Hall of Fame has inducted nearly 500 notable professionals since its inception in 1985.

NIU alum Jeff Yordon (center) at NASDAQ. Photo from www.nasdaq.com.

NIU alumnus Jeffrey Yordon (center) at NASDAQ.

“Jeff Yordon’s bold approach to leadership has established him as not only a guiding force in the generic pharmaceuticals industry, but also as an example of a homegrown talent with a commitment to cultivating entrepreneurship right here in Chicagoland,” said Nancy Harvey, Executive Director of the Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies at UIC. “We are delighted to have him among our 2014 Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame inductees.”

Yordon, a native of Chicago, founded Sagent in 2006 and has played a key role in shaping the company’s unique business model and leading its overall growth. An industry veteran with 44 years of experience in the generic injectables industry, Mr. Yordon has led four successful injectable startups prior to founding Sagent. In 2011, he was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Midwest. Yordon, who graduated with a degree in Political Science, is a member of the Executive Committee of the NIU Foundation Board, a member of the Board of Directors of the NIU Leadership Forum, Chairman of the NIU Political Science Advisory Panel and a member of the NIU Athletic Advisory Panel. He received a Distinguished Alumni Award in 2007.

Sagent is recognized for its highly unique business model which combines best-in-class quality and service, an extensive global network of partners with state-of-the-art technology, and global excellence in manufacturing. It was ranked seventh on the 2014 Crain’s Fast Fifty, an annual ranking of Chicago’s fastest-growing companies, and was ranked first on this list in 2013. The company was also named the third fastest-growing company in the U.S. on the Delotte Fast 500 in 2011. Sagent’s unmatched expertise and industry-leading resources enable it to direct and scale resources to anticipate and rapidly meet customer needs.

Five Years: The Yordon Center from NIU Alumni Association on Vimeo.