06.10.21
The NIIC Names Interim President and CEO
Tammy Allen, Director | Marketing & Programs, The NIIC
For Immediate Release
June 10, 2021, Fort Wayne, Ind.— Today, The NIIC Board Chair Larry Rowland announced that the NIIC’s Board of Directors has appointed Ted Baker as the Interim President & CEO of The NIIC effective July 1, 2021.
Ted Baker is the Executive Director and CEO of the Innovation Connector in Muncie, Indiana. While maintaining his responsibilities in Muncie, he will provide interim executive leadership services to The NIIC under a contractual agreement between the Innovation Connector in Muncie and The NIIC. The expectation is the interim leadership agreement will last up to four months.
“Ted is extremely active and well-known in the incubation industry. His broad service and affiliation with entrepreneurial organizations within Indiana and nationally, his knowledge of the ecosystem landscape, and his prior collaborative work with The NIIC make him exceptionally well-qualified to assume this role,” said Rowland.
Innovation Connector Board Chair Ronald K. Fauquher stated, “We support the Indiana entrepreneurial ecosystem. We have enjoyed a strong and collaborative relationship with The NIIC for the last 15 years. We are confident this arrangement provides quality and competent leadership while The NIIC searches for its CEO replacement. Ted is a capable and passionate champion of entrepreneurship and business incubation. He will get right to work to ensure continuity and stability during this important transition period.”
“I am honored to have the opportunity to fill in temporarily to support The NIIC’s transition as the Board Search Committee finds a President & CEO replacement. I look forward to enabling The NIIC’s leadership role in inclusive prosperity programs, incubation globally, and its commitment to entrepreneurial excellence. My goal during the transition is to continue to advance the mission and programs of The NIIC,” said Baker.
“Under the leadership of our Board Vice-Chair Ron Elsenbaumer, our Board Search Committee, comprised of both board members and outside ecosystem partners, continues to advance the succession plan process previously approved by The Board. We are finalizing the job position specification, timeline, and the process to be used to find and appoint the next CEO,” said Rowland
About The NIIC
499 new products launched, 196 patent applications submitted or granted, and 2,351 jobs created—that is what entrepreneurs had achieved through The NIIC since its inception two decades ago. The NIIC has also connected Northeast Indiana companies to attract $100.4 million in grants and capital.
The NIIC is a non-profit, vibrant entrepreneurial community designed to advise entrepreneurs to plan, launch, and grow successful business ventures. The NIIC bolsters innovative companies to move ideas into action. The NIIC is located in a designated U.S. Small Business Administration HUB Zone. In April 2018, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb designated The Northeast Indiana Innovation Park Campus as an Opportunity Zone through the U.S. Treasury. The NIIC is the country’s only ISO9001:2015 registered business incubation and acceleration program. Additionally, the International Business Innovation Association (inbia.org) recognized the NIIC as the 2020 Entrepreneur Center of the Year – Mixed-use and awarded it one of the two prestigious industry awards – the 2020 Dinah Adkins Award. TheNIIC.org. Click here for The NIIC press kit.
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