Founder And Executive Director
Current
Maquoketa, Iowa
Innovate 120 is a new non-profit innovation and co-working center, refined through conversations with business and local civic leaders. Simply put, it’s focus is success, measured by the energy, entrepreneurship and business growth it aims to bring to rural communities in Eastern Iowa. It will be a catalyst where the community can imagine and build their futures. 4 main pillars ground our effort:Work: As companies around the country have embraced a work-from-home model, an alternative work environment will meet the need for flexible work space at far lower rates than commercial office leases. Innovate 120 will provide opportunities for open seating and individual offices, each configured to specific needs. This model will bring more businesses, and their employees, downtown. Build: A key component of Innovate 120 is to drive entrepreneurship. It will become the home base for entrepreneurship programs in Jackson County, providing ideation and Lean Startup business model guidance, accelerator programming, expert interaction, and office space from them to grow their venture.Learn: The pandemic has opened up our concept of how we learn, both as formal students and for life-long learners. Innovate 120 will provide monthly programming from staff and industry experts that is open to area residents and business people.Connect: The community can benefit from a new space and new ideas to come together. Connecting over common ground and breaking new ground can help drive individual and collective growth.Description
