פייגנבאום אבי

Avi Fiegenbaum (1952-2010) was born and raised in Kiryat Ata.
Since childhood, he excelled in sports and focused his talents on the local volleyball team. A key fixture in Kiryat Ata's senior squad since the age of 16, he eventually led his local team from the depths of the second division to two historic League Championships in 1977 and two Israeli Cups. The pinnacle of his playing career was his captainship of the Israeli National Squad.
Avi received his B.Sc. in Industrial Engineering and Management (1979) from the Technion, his M.B.A (1981) from Tel Aviv University, and his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (1986). Upon conclusion of his doctoral studies, he conducted research and taught at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. In 1991 he returned to Israel with his family and joined the Faculty of Industrial Engineering and Management, Technion, eventually rising to the rank of Associate Dean and Head of the Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship area.
Avi authored numerous scholarly articles and books, including "The Take-Off of Israeli High Tech Entrepreneurship in the 1990s: A Strategic Management Research Perspective" (2007, Elsevier Publications). He also lectured at universities worldwide and supervised graduate students in Technion’s advanced studies program. His main research interests included the strategic management of companies that compete in both local and global markets in order to enhance innovation resulting in superior market value. While starting with the high-tech sector, in later years Avi developed and adapted the strategic and entrepreneurial theoretical framework to other sectors, such as health care, education, low-tech (traditional) industries, and sports.
Avi passed away in September 2010 following a brave struggle with cancer. He left behind a wife, 3 children, and a grandson. He will always be remembered for his generous personality and ability to forge friendships with people from all walks of life.