Kennesaw State University – Michael J. Coles College of Business has named Michael Salvador, current director of executive education programs, as the interim director of the school’s business incubator, Ignite HQ.
IngiteHQ is the premier business incubator and accelerator in north Georgia, offering numerous resources to entrepreneurs to support their initiatives, such as: mentorship, educational planning, physical work-spaces and more. Partnered with Kennesaw and supported by Cobb County, IgniteHQ recruits and supports startups in a variety of industries, including biotech, energy, technology and engineering, among others.
Nancy Whatley, who has served as director for IgniteHQ since March of 2015, will stepdown from her current position to serve as national vice president of franchise operations for TRC Staffing Services. Whatley commented:
“It has been an honor to lead IgniteHQ since its inception almost a year and a half ago. What began as a partnership between academia and business will soon grow to be the entrepreneurial hub for the region producing new technology and business ventures poised to revolutionize various industries. It has been exciting to be part of Ignite HQ’s birth.”
Houston Davis, Interim President of Kennesaw State, commented on Salvador’s appointment while acknowledging Whatley’s hard work and leadership thus far. Moving forward, Davis said,
“…we will develop stronger ties between IgniteHQ and the Coles College of Business…as we continue to build a premier innovation center that will serve as an economic engine for our region and the state of Georgia.”