Statewide entrepreneurship organization RAIN Catalysts selected Rachel Jagoda Brunette as its next CEO.
Brunette takes over March 18 from Caroline Cummings, who has helmed the organization for eight years. Cummings will remain with the organization as head of some special projects.
The Regional Accelerator & Innovation Network is a nonprofit that works statewide to partner with communities and support entrepreneurship. When local communities invite RAIN in, the team works with local partners to build up entrepreneurial ecosystems for economic development.
The group has developed expertise building these ecosystems in rural areas.
Brunette was most recently Philanthropic Director for Foundation Source, a company that offers foundation management services. Locally, she spent seven years with the Lemelson Foundation as a program officer. The Portland-based foundation funds programs that support invention-based businesses and invention ecosystems.
“Entrepreneurship and innovation are the economic engine of our communities,” said Brunette in a written statement. “I’m honored to be stepping into this role to continue RAIN Catalysts’ work to ensure that all communities — especially rural and underserved populations — are able to enjoy economic opportunity and prosperity driven by enterprise creation and growth.”
RAIN Catalysts, which has 22 employees, is funded through federal grants and commitments from the communities in which it works. Last year the group launched a program with Portland Seed Fund to help get more founders ready for venture capital investment, if that is an option for their business.
“RAIN Catalysts plays an essential role in creating economic opportunity for underserved communities through connecting resources to prospective innovators and entrepreneurs and building supportive environments for small and growing businesses to flourish,” said Juan Barraza, RAIN’s board president, in a written statement. “Rachel’s extensive experience in cultivating and activating robust ecosystems will lead the organization to even greater impact and growth.”
