08.19.19
Connected Health Lab Adds Staff, Near Term Focus—Furthering Partner Engagement
Tammy Y. Allen, Director, Marketing & Programs, The NIIC
August 19, 2019, Fort Wayne, Ind.—Staffing has begun for the Connected Health Lab, forming to strengthen and diversify Indiana’s health-related markets. The long-term vision is to help make Indiana a recognized global leader in health IoT (Internet of Things).
Jessica Carender is the new Partner Engagement Manager, and Larry Rottmeyer, Ph.D., is the new Business Development Analyst. “This is an ambitious endeavor, and the addition of Jessica and Larry to our team is integral to further partner engagement of the lab. That is our primary focus for the coming months, as we collaborate with our partners and build the network for entrepreneurs to test and commercialize projects,” said Mike Fritsch, Senior Entrepreneur in Residence and Director of Revenue Development, The NIIC.
Prior to joining The NIIC, Carender served as a business development manager at a major health network that also focuses on home health. She’s a graduate of Indiana University Bloomington with a Bachelor of Arts, a double major in Telecommunications and Sociology. “The variety of clients served through The NIIC combined with The NIIC team creates an innovative environment that inspires you to think outside the box and beyond. That’s exactly what’s needed for the Connected Health Lab,” said Carender.
Rottmeyer’s previous work before joining The NIIC focused on new program design, business creativity, new revenue streams and talent development. He also served as a marketing professor and business school dean for five universities, including designing new programs and learning experiences. “I enjoy high-energy, creative, fast-paced business environments that offer new learning experiences and growth opportunities. What attracts people to The NIIC will also attract them to the connected health lab. It includes people who want to be engaged in initiatives that are innovative, disrupting and important,” said Rottmeyer.
Funded by a three-year $1.5 Million grant (including matching funds) Connected Health Lab is part of the Economic Development Administration (EDA) 2018 Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS) Program. Founding partners include The NIIC, Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), Clear Object, Indiana Tech, Purdue University Fort Wayne, Parkview Mirro Center for Research and Innovation, Vision Tech Partners Northeast Indiana, Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership and Greater Fort Wayne, Inc.
Capital Access Partners include Elevate Ventures Northeast Indiana, VisionTech Partners and Indiana University Research & Technology Corporation.
Training and Education Partners include WorkONE and Clear Object.
Outreach & Marketing Partners include Indiana Economic Development Corporation, Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership and Greater Fort Wayne, Inc.
Connected Resource Partners include Indiana Tech, Indiana IoT Lab, Purdue University Fort Wayne, Parkview Mirro Center for Research & Innovation and Parkview Health.
About The NIIC
The NIIC is a non-profit, vibrant entrepreneurial community. We help business builders and entrepreneurs launch and grow successful business ventures. We are located in a designated U.S. Small Business Administration HUB Zone, and in April 2018, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb designated The Northeast Indiana Innovation Park Campus as an Opportunity Zone through the U.S. Treasury. Formed in 1999 by a consortium of community and government leaders and organizations, The NIIC was recognized by Entrepreneur magazine in 2013 as one of the top four under-the-radar incubators in the country. This basically means Entrepreneur magazine, with the help of International Business Incubation Association, picked four U.S. incubators to highlight, and we were one of them. In their words, we “stand out in a state not always perceived as small business friendly.” The NIIC is the country’s only ISO9001:2015 registered business incubation and acceleration program. TheNIIC.org. Click here for The NIIC press kit.
