Local nonprofit Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub has announced a new executive director.
The Over-the-Rhine-based startup accelerator, which supports social entrepreneurs with goals to better the community, named Donna Zaring to the lead role following the retirement of Laura Randall-Tepe, who served as executive director for two years.
Zaring comes to Flywheel from Cintrifuse where she worked as its director of external relations and development, working to secure funding from regional corporations and foundations. She also led StartupCincy, a Cintrifuse collaboration that connects entrepreneurs with resources.
Prior to her work at Cintrifuse, Zaring worked as vice president of client services at Burke, a marketing research and innovation firm; vice president of strategy at Seed Strategy, a marketing agency; owner and president of Outsource CMO, another marketing firm; and as vice president of marketing at Fifth Third Bank.
She earned her bachelor of science in communications and marketing from Miami University.
“Startups are hard, especially for entrepreneurs dedicated to solving complex issues that impact our community,” Zaring told me. "My experience in corporate marketing, innovation, as an entrepreneur and a nonprofit leader gives me the ability to develop robust strategies for supporting these mission-driven founders and a broad network to build a coalition of support across our community."
Randall-Tepe made the decision to retire in late 2023 and spent her time developing a candidate pool for her replacement.
“When Laura shared she was planning to retire, anybody in our ecosystem would tell you it was pretty obvious how much I loved Flywheel and the work they were doing,” Zaring said. “I was eager to raise my hand and express interest in the role and continue the great work the team’s been doing.”
While Flywheel’s board selected Zaring, Randall-Tepe noted how she was a “clear choice.”
“Donna really did stand out for the comprehensiveness of her skill set,” Randall-Tepe told me. “She is very strong in marketing and communication, very strong in fundraising, very strong in strategic leadership, and not to mention, just a fabulous person and good friend of Flywheel.”
Randall-Tepe said her role requires versatility, curiosity and a willingness to learn. Zaring noted how important it is for the executive director to drive Flywheel’s agenda, ensure support for the community, fundraise, build partnerships and build programming.
“This is such a unique space that we serve, and I’m really looking forward to just going a lot deeper and creating even more impact,” Zaring said.
Zaring’s first day is Aug. 1. During the month of August, Randall-Tepe will stay on at Flywheel to assist in the transition process and guide Zaring through operations and programming, like Flywheel's SustainableCincy Accelerator, which is an eight-week accelerator program for early-stage startups in environmental sustainability. It will be accepting applicants for its fall cohort in August.
Flywheel, founded in 2011, has helped 54 local social entrepreneurs, 83% who are still in operation. Its revenue is more than $8 million.
