07.02.21
The NIIC in Fort Wayne names interim president-CEO, adds to executive committee
FWBF Staff Report | FWBusiness.com
The NIIC announced that Theodore (Ted) Baker has been chosen as interim president and CEO.
The entrepreneurial incubator also announced two new appointments to the board executive committee.
Baker joined The NIIC on July 2 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.
Larry Rowland, NIIC board chair, said in the announcement of Baker’s appointment, “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,” Baker said. “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. 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 health care 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. LaPan had worked at the NIIC for 21 years and announced his resignation in May to lead an incubation service for the University of Florida.
