As the founder of Contessa Premium Foods, John Blazevich put his stamp on the food industry through his drive to innovate. The holder of 23 patents and hundreds of copyrights, he is a creative force who enjoyed a long and fruitful career up until his retirement. Before founding Contessa, John Blazevich studied marketing and finance at the University of Southern California (USC). USC opened its doors in 1880. This first year saw USC welcome 10 teachers to its faculty, along with 53 students. USC was founded by Judge Robert Maclay Widney, who dreamed of founding an educational institution in the frontier town of Los Angeles. After forming a board of trustees, Widney secured donations amounting to 308 lots of land, which became home to the main university building. A year after its founding, USC opened Hodge Hall, its first dormitory. The opening of its school of music followed in 1884, with its college of medicine arriving a year later. Before the end of the 19th century, the school had expanded to include programs in law and dentistry. The 20th century saw continued growth, making USC one of America’s most prestigious universities. Today, the university’s reach has expanded dramatically. It now has a faculty of 4,700 full-time educators, along with a student base of 49,500.