Kyle's Blog
ICC Explained
The Northern Kentucky ICC is affiliated with the Madison E-Zone, a technology business accelerator in located in Covington and serving the greater Northern Kentucky market. Its mission is to attract and serve start-up, emerging and existing high technology businesses. The E-Zone seeks to enrich and strengthen the technology community in Northern Kentucky and the region as a whole by creating opportunities for technological innovation and economic development. The E-Zone offers entrepreneurs a wide range of services, ranging from incubator space, connectivity, and backoffice support to business consulting services consisting of the ICC Program, mentoring and service provider support. Entrepreneurs can take advantage of any or all of these services whether they choose to locate at the E-Zone or from some other local business complex. Bottom line, the E-Zone offers the services required to assist entrepreneurs in moving their concepts into growth mode through the acquisition of capital.
Casey Barach was hired as Madison E-Zone’s Executive Director in July of 2001. As the E-Zone’s first Executive Director, Casey brought to the new organization an extensive knowledge of New Economy Law, technology infrastructure, and marketing and growing businesses. In addition to overseeing the operations of the E-Zone, he works with the Board of Mentors to coordinate the Mentoring Program and actively promotes the E-Zone through numerous speaking engagements and involvements with entrepreneurship and technology-related associations. Casey is affiliated with CincyTech USA and the Regional Entrepreneur Network. He is also a member of the President’s Committee of the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce and, the MSAMS Team for the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the State of Ohio Bar. Prior to serving as Madison E-Zone’s Executive Director, Casey held the position of senior vice president of corporate development and general counsel for the Lottery Channel/Lottery.com. Before that, he was senior vice president/general manager of AT&T Broadband (formerly TCI Telecommunications, Inc.) where he had expertise in Internet delivery and products, telephony services, satellite television and cable infrastructure. He began his career in product management with the on-line company, Lexis-Nexis. Casey earned a law degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law, an M.B.A. from the University of Dayton, and a B.A. in political science from the Ohio State University.
Ned Jackson serves as the ICC Commercialization Director. He comes to the Madison E-Zone from Northern Kentucky University where he served on the management and marketing faculty in the College of Business. Ned's primary responsibilities with the E-Zone are to coordinate, monitor and assist with the progress of clients in the Commercialization Process. He brings a broad background in private industry, where he has held executive positions in e-commerce, retail and manufacturing in the functional areas of operations and sales. He earned his BA degree in Marketing from the University of South Florida and his MBA from the University of Tampa, where he later served as an adjunct Professor of Marketing.
Cherie serves as the Office Manager to the Madison E-Zone. Her primary responsibilities include facilities management, meeting and event coordination and assisting the executive director. Cherie holds a BA in Communications with emphasis in public relations and advertising from Morehead State University. She comes to them with experience in advertising, political campaigning, public relations, graphic design and data management
Dean Harvey was hired in late 2002 as the Director of the Lexington Innovation & Commercialization Center (ICC) and the Director of the is the Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship. Dean comes from a rich background in idea generation. He spent 24 years at Bell Laboratories, eventually rising to head a systems engineering department that developed requirements for visual communications and other activities. Later, he was general manager of Lucent Technologies, a collaborative conferencing business with revenues that grew to $100 million over five years. Most recently, he was vice president of business development and advanced technologies for Octave Communications.
Gabriel Wilmoth is Associate Director of the Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Kentucky and the project coordinator for UK's NSF Partnerships for Innovation project known as the Natural Products Alliance. He holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Biochemistry from Virginia Tech. He began working at UK in 2002; prior to that he served as a Peace Corps volunteer in East Africa working in agricultural and business development.
The Enterprise Corporation, a Greater Louisville Inc. company, specializes in servicing high-impact entrepreneurs, new ventures and scientists in the Greater Louisville area. Enterprise Corporation (www.enterprisecorp.com) serves as the Louisville ICC and is collocated with the Greater Louisville Small Business Development Center (SBDC). The collocation of SBDC and Enterprise Corp allows every Louisville-based entrepreneur with a great idea an opportunity to rapidly commercialize their concept. The Enterprise Corp specializes in assisting entrepreneurs who drive high-potential concepts, ranging from industry veterans solving an unmet need in their market to university scientists discovering a new cure for a life-threatening disease. They provide tools and guidance for building a strong business plan, executive summary and investor presentation all focused solely on raising private equity capital. Then, they connect their clients to mentors and service providers such as accountants, market data experts, and technology specialists. Once a client's business plan and presentation are solid, they match them with members of the ICC capital network and help make the pitch.
Mark Crane is Director of the ICC and Executive Director of The Enterprise Corporation, a GLI Company. Mark's team at the Enterprise Corp assists scientists and entrepreneurs in the commercialization of their ideas. His team provides Intake Assessments, Business Plan Development Services, and assists in Raising Venture Capital--both from early-stage investors as well as later-stage VC funds. On a broader scale, Mark works closely with the Senior Team at Greater Louisville Inc., The Metro Chamber of Commerce, on a full slate of programs designed to further Louisville's efforts to become an economic 'hot spot,' with an emphasis in the areas of Health and Logistics. Mark earned an Engineering Degree from Purdue University, and has 12 years of experience in the technology industry. Mark spent most of his career with The Cobb Group, a Louisville-based high-tech publishing company founded by Doug Cobb, and during that time formed partnerships with many of the industry's technology giants, including Microsoft, Oracle, and Apple. Mark is passionate about both the history and future of entrepreneurship in the Greater Louisville region, and he claims to be the world's number one fan of U of L's High-flying Cardinals.
ik Chadha is the Technology Commercialization Director at the Louisville ICC and Enterprise Corporation. Prior to joining the Enterprise Corp, Vik worked as the Entrepreneur-in-Residence at bCatalyst where he had the unique opportunity to view emerging industry trends and assist in the process of identifying, evaluating, and funding innovative startups. He performed comprehensive due diligence on early-stage companies including evaluation of technology adoption life-cycles, competitive analysis, and business and financial model viability. From 1995 to 2001 he worked as a senior consultant at GE Consumer Products. In 1997 he was a founding member of the Internet team that created a system to sell microwave ovens over the Internet. Launched in 1998, this was the first of its kind in the industry.
He has served as a member of the IEEE and the New York Academy of Sciences. He has a Masters degree in Electrical Engineering (major in Computer Engineering) from Virginia Tech, VA and a Bachelors degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering from the Manipal Institute of Technology, India.
Rebecca Brady is the Commercialization Director of the Louisville ICC and Enterprise Corporation and manager of the Vogt Awards. Rebecca has significant startup experience and is a graduate of the iMBA program at University of Louisville. Prior to joining Enterprise Corp., she worked for three successful area startups, gaining solid understanding of entrepreneurial business. As Commercialization Director, Rebecca works closely with fast-growth business entrepreneurs that need assistance with tightening up their business plan for equity financing. She also assists entrepreneurs with their investor pitch prior to their seeking capital. She helps entrepreneurs locate funding resources, stay connected to the community thru events, and find other assistance where needed for their plan /concept development. Rebecca, as the Vogt Awards Manager, is responsible for overall program design and management, marketing, facilitating Selection Committee meetings, and developing and improving application materials for the Fund. The Vogt Awards Manager is responsible for the all staff functions related to the Vogt Invention and Innovation Fund, a $5 million endowment left by Henry Vogt Heuser to help inventors and innovators develop their products and ideas. The primary purpose of this award is to memorialize the Vogt innovation tradition in Louisville by rewarding recipients with the financial support they need to commercialize their ideas.
The Eastern Region Innovation Network is headquarted on the campus of Eastern Kentucky University and serves 46 rural counties. The Eastern Region has an Innovation and Commercialization Center (ICC) located on campus at EKU and 7 Innovation Centers throughout the region. The Eastern Region Innovation Network is a partnership of EKU's Center for Economic Development, Entrepreneurship and Technology, the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation, and the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development.
Innovation and Commercialization Center Mel White, Director Mel is the Executive Director of the Eastern Region Innovation and Commercialization Center. Mel joined the ICC in January 2003 as the Executive Director of the Eastern KY Region. Over the past twenty years, Mel has honed his skills as a sales, marketing, and communication executive. Most recently, he owned a consulting firm, Decision Tree Associates, which assisted companies with their growth and marketing strategies. Prior to that, Mel was the Director of Sales and Acct. Management for a high-tech music start-up in Portland, OR. In addition, he has managed the sales, marketing, and design departments for two trade show exhibit manufacturers and spent seven years as a trainer and retail area manager. Mel holds an MBA from the University of North Dakota and an MA in English from Miami University. He also has project management certification from Portland State University.
Ashland Area Innovation Center Mick Fosson, Director Mick is a native of Boyd County in eastern Kentucky and is a 1963 graduate of the University of Kentucky in Chemical Engineering, later earning an MBA in Management from Marshall University. Mick has extensive business experience having served as Department Managers in various Fortune 500 companies, overseen hundreds of employees, and implemented management systems that have saved millions of dollars. Additionally, Mick has started 2 companies and knows first-hand the pains of getting a new business off the ground.
Pikeville Area Innovation Center John Holman, Director John is a native of Bell County in eastern Kentucky and is a graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkhill, New York. John served their country in the US Army where he earned the honor of serving as Senior Instructor at the West Point Military Academy for 3 years. After 20 years of service to the Army, John retired and went to work as a teacher at West Carter High School in Carter County for 6 years. Before becoming Director of the Pikeville Innovation Center, John worked at Pikeville College as the Director of the Technology Center.
West Liberty Area Innovation Center Johnathan Gay, Director Johnathan is a native of Leslie County in eastern Kentucky and is a 1999 graduate of Eastern Kentucky University where he received a BS in Political Science. Johnathan then attended the University of Kentucky College of Law where he graduated in 2002. Before college, Johnathan served their country in the US Army and also served in the Kentucky National Guard during his study at EKU. Before becoming Director of the West Liberty Innovation Center, he was in the private practice of law in London, KY.
Paintsville Innovation Center Tim Robinson, Director Tim is a native of Martin County in eastern Kentucky and a 1998 graduate of Cumberland College where he received a BS in Political Science. He then graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Law in May of 2004 and is a member of the Kentucky bar. Robinson was hired as the Director of the Kentucky Highlands Entrepreneur Center and Johnson County Innovation Center in April of this year.
The Innovation Group of Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation, located in Lexington, Kentucky, manages both the Commercialization Investment Funds and the Innovation and Commercialization Network (process and regional offices). Their expertise is very broad: Biotechnology, law, finance, raising money in the private market, & start-up experience as the highlights. Feel free to contact anyone on TIG's staff if you have a question.
Jim Clifton serves as the Vice President and Executive Director of The Innovation Group. Jim joined KSTC in June 2001 as the Executive Director of The Innovation Group. A Kentucky native, Jim's diverse management background and technology experience provide a solid understanding and foundation for his role in creating and implementing the commercialization strategies of the Kentucky Innovation Act. Jim is a software business startup executive with experience in B2B infrastructure and networking software markets. He has built business teams from concept stage to commercial stage with 100+ employees and has operational experience in all phases of business. Jim holds an MBA from Vanderbilt University and a BS from Washington and Lee University.
Matt McGarvey serves as the Venture Finance Director for The Innovation Group. Matt joined the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation in October 2002. A Kentucky native, Matthew spent 20 years in Washington DC, most recently serving as the Vice President and Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer for XM Satellite Radio. In this capacity, he built the financial, accounting, treasury and accounting functions for a high-tech start-up that has raised over $2.2 billion. Prior to XM, Matthew led financial consulting executive for Accenture. In this capacity, he helped several early stage domestic and international companies and ventures increase their shareholder value through process improvement and financial innovation. Prior to Accenture, Matthew also served in various executive financial accounting positions at Verizon Communications. Matthew holds a BA from Lambuth University in Jackson TN and is a licensed CPA.
Vicki Carothers serves as the Administrative Assistant to The Innovation Group and KSEF. She joined the Kentucky Science Technology Corporation (KSTC) in August 2001 as the administrative assistant for both The Innovation Group (TIG) and the Kentucky Science and Engineering Foundation (KSEF). Vicki's talented skill set and valuable experience gained from working at the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce make her an invaluable resource to the team. Vicki holds a degree in business administration from Midway College.
Eric Mills joined KSTC in September 2003 as the Resource Development Manager of The Innovation Group. In partnership with Kentucky’s Office for the New Economy, Eric manages the rural Innovation Center program, which is setting up and coordinating entrepreneurial services in more than 15 locations around the State. A native of rural Eastern Kentucky, Eric brings a unique skill set to meet the challenges of new economy entrepreneurship in rural communities. While in law school, Eric founded UK Entrepreneurs, a student organization of over 100 members dedicated to advancing entrepreneurship on campus. UK President, Lee Todd, serves as the group’s advisor. Eric’s work experience includes time spent with a Louisville-based internet startup. Eric is involved in his community volunteering with several local groups, including Citizens for a Better Martin County, a community group he co-founded to sponsor community events. Eric has a degree in Biology from Transylvania University and it also a member of the Kentucky Bar with a Juris Doctorate from the University of Kentucky.
The Central Region Innovation Network is headquarted at the Western Kentucky Center for Emerging Technology and serves counties through south central Kentucky. The Central Region has an Innovation and Commercialization Center (ICC) located in Bowling Green and will have 4 Innovation Centers throughout the region. The Central Region Innovation Network is a partnership of WKU's Center for Emerging Technologies, the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation, and the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development.
Buddy Steen is the Director of the Innovation Commercialization Center. Buddy graduated from Western Kentucky with a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering Technology and a minor in Computer Science. He worked for the Engineering Technology department at Western Kentucky University as their Technical Support Specialist/Staff Engineer for ten years before co-founding a high-tech start-up company called Cybersensor, Inc. As the co- inventor of Cybersensor's satellite-based remote telemetry technology, he is named on several of its patents and has held many positions including V.P. Research and Development, Chief Technology Officer, President and CEO.
Elizabethtown Innovation Center Lisa Williams, Director Lisa came to the newly created Innovation Center in December of 2003 and she’s been meeting with entrepreneurs and local organizations on a daily basis ever since. Williams, who came to the Center with a degree in Banking and Business, has been a small business owner for several years. She’s also been a realtor for more than twenty years. Now she’s using her experience to help other entrepreneurs.
The Western Region Innovation Network is headquarted on the campus of Murray State University and serves the western most rural counties. The Western Region has an Innovation and Commercialization Center (ICC) located on campus at MSU and will have 4 Innovation Centers throughout the region. The Western Region Innovation Network is a partnership between Murray State University, Western Regional Center for Emerging Technology, Inc., Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation and The Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development.
Patrick S. Powell is the Director of the Innovation & Commercialization Center. Patrick joined the ICC team in July 2003. Formerly the Executive Vice President and corporate officer of a Kentucky mining and processing company, he brings twenty years of business and management experience to the ICC group. Pat has a business degree in Computer Science from Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas. He is a past chairman of both the Ceramic Manufacturer’s Association (CerMA) and the Whitewares and Materials Division of the American Ceramic Society (ACerS).
Paducah Innovation and Small Business Center Loretta Daniel, Director Loretta came to the newly created Small Business and Innovation Center in May of 2004 and she’s been meeting with entrepreneurs and local organizations on a daily basis ever since. Loretta has a wealth of business and consulting experience having served as Management Consultant with the Murray State University SBDC, Paducah office, for the past four years. She has a Bachelor of Arts in the Area of Business Administration from Murray State University and recently completed her MBA. She is the former owner of a successful small business, which she operated for 8 l/2 years. Ms. Daniel is also experienced in the banking field as a branch bank Manager in western Kentucky.