07.01.21
The NIIC Announces Leadership Changes
Tammy Allen, Director | Marketing & Programs, The NIIC
For immediate release
July 1, 2021, Fort Wayne, Ind.— These are exciting times at The NIIC. The organization welcomes Interim President and CEO Theodore (Ted) Baker and announces two new appointments to the Board Executive Committee.
Interim President and CEO
Theodore (Ted) Baker joins The NIIC today as Interim President and CEO. He concurrently serves as the CEO/Executive Director of the Innovation Connector, a community-based technology-oriented business incubator in Muncie, Indiana.
Larry Rowland, NIIC Board Chair, said, “We are deeply grateful that Ted has chosen to apply his knowledge, skills, and experience to lead us into what will become NIIC 2.0. The NIIC leadership and staff continue to build upon past success and serve the immediate and evolving needs of business builders of Northeast Indiana.”
Baker is no stranger to The NIIC, Northeast Indiana, or the incubator/accelerator industry. “Through my years as the Executive Director & CEO of the Innovation Connector, I’ve been deeply involved with The NIIC. I’ve collaborated with The NIIC on funding opportunities and programs, Certified Technology Parks (CTPs) advocacy, leadership through InBIA, and served on the WEOC WBC Advisory Council. I’m a former business owner and understand the struggles and success that come with it,” said Baker. He also teaches in the Entrepreneurship Department at his alma mater, Ball State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing with an emphasis on Procurement and Material Control and Sales.
Board Executive Committee Additions
The NIIC Executive Committee, with The Board’s support, added existing board members Dr. Eric Beier and Dr. Andrea Robinson to the Executive Committee. “We are delighted to have Dr. Beier and Dr. Robinson join the NIIC Executive Committee,” said Rowland.
“Dr. Beier’s long-term interest in The NIIC and his experience as both a physician and entrepreneur bring added perspective to the Committee.” Beier is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Xillum, an intelligence software company focused on healthcare business. He is also Partner and Chief Medical Officer for Boomerang Ventures. He previously served as CEO of Matrix-Bio, an Indiana biomedical company focused on developing cancer diagnostic tests using metabolite profiling technology.
“Dr. Robinson’s experience in education and economic development will help The NIIC expand our collaborative efforts throughout the region,” said Rowland. Robinson is the City of Fort Wayne’s Community Development Administrator for Economic Development. She previously served as META director for the University of Saint Francis and Dean of the School of Business at Ivy Tech Community College.
Baker succeeds former NIIC President and CEO Karl R. LaPan on The NIIC Board of Directors.
About The NIIC
499 new products launched, 196 patent applications submitted or granted, and 2,351 jobs created—that is what entrepreneurs have 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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