A new leader could be in place by year's end at Launch Tennessee, the Nashville-based organization that the state uses to foster entrepreneurs and small businesses.
That timeline became public on Monday when board members and the interim chief at LaunchTN announced the full membership of its CEO search committee. This is the third time in three years that LaunchTN has hunted for a CEO, with the most recent vacancy happening when Van Tucker stepped down earlier this month.
LaunchTN works to spark business creation across the state, including by investing almost $11 million in three dozen startups and providing grants to a network of regional entrepreneur centers, including the Nashville Entrepreneur Center. LaunchTN also hosts the annual 3686 conference in Nashville, which aims to attract investors from around the nation and heighten the state's entrepreneurial profile. LaunchTN also could play a role in funneling $65 million of small business aid from the federal government to companies around the state.
The nonprofit, funded almost entirely with public money, is chaired by the state's economic development commissioner, Bob Rolfe. The board's vice chairman, attorney Bruce Doeg of Baker Donelson, is leading the search committee (below).
LaunchTN is pledging a national search. The 12-person search committee convenes next week for the first time.
"We’re looking for the right person to lead LaunchTN and help us continue our quest to make Tennessee the most startup friendly state in the nation," Doeg said in a press release.
Abby Trotter, founding partner at Nashville's Hall Strategies, is serving as interim CEO.
"Our staff and our stakeholders are eager to turn the page and begin a new chapter at LaunchTN," Trotter said.
Charlie Brock was the first full-time CEO for LaunchTN after state officials revamped it in 2012. Brock stepped down in mid-2018 and was succeeded by Margaret Dolan. She was CEO for almost two years, leaving in mid-2020.
Tucker, whom Dolan had hired as chief operating officer, became interim CEO and then the full-time CEO as of December 2020.
Search committee members
- Bruce Doeg (Nashville), attorney, Baker Donelson [also vice chairman of LaunchTN]
- Jane Allen (Nashville), CEO, Nashville Entrepreneur Center
- Tom Ballard (Knoxville), chief alliance officer, PYA P.C. (also chairman emeritus, LaunchTN)
- Lindsey Cox (Chattanooga), CEO of Co.Lab
- Ben Ferguson (Jackson), CEO of the CO.
- Shawn Glinter (Nashville), founder and CEO, Pendant BioSciences (also a LaunchTN board member)
- Kayla Rodriguez Graff (Memphis), Cofounder and CEO, SweetBio Inc.
- Stacey Patterson (Knoxville), vice president for research, outreach and economic development, University of Tennessee (also a LaunchTN board member)
- Julia Polk (Nashville), founder and chief strategy officer, Decode Health (also a member of LaunchTN's executive committee)
- Jessica Taveau (Memphis), CEO, Epicenter
- Marcus Whitney (Nashville), founder and managing partner, Jumpstart Foundry (also a LaunchTN board member)
- Ken Woody (Memphis), president, Innova Memphis
