Julie Sullivan Owens started out consulting at the Social Enterprise Greenhouse (SEG) in 2018, working alongside the CEO and founder Kelly Ramirez. There, in addition to helping guide the growth strategy and sustainability of the organization, she also volunteered her services pro bono to help dozens of up and coming Rhode Island entrepreneurs. When Ramirez stepped down from SEG last year, Owens stepped in as interim CEO.
SEG has now said Owens is taking on the CEO role full time. Initially, Owens said, she hadn't applied when a national search to replace Ramirez last summer was taking place. When the role became vacant again, she jumped. SEG supports hundreds of local social impact-minded ventures each year through its four flagship programs: The Ideator, the Incubator, the Incubadora, and the Impact Accelerator.
Owens currently serves on the boards of directors of the Barrington Education Foundation and Eagle Speed, a youth running organization , and lives in Barrington with her husband and four teenage children.
“After leaving the interim CEO role at SEG, I went back into consulting and I thought that would be the path I’d follow, but in late February I started the interview process to return,” she said. “It feels like I’ve found my calling, because even as a volunteer I loved working here.”
In a statement, SEG co-chairs MJ Kaplan and David Melançon said Owen’s previous work at the organization is a great foundation for long-term success as SEG’s chief executive.
“We look forward to seeing Julie grow the organization, develop new programming, and expand the reach of proven initiatives,” they said.
Owen’s previous consulting work largely focused on strategic planning and innovative growth in the private and nonprofit sectors, with a focus on the healthcare industry. As CEO of SEG, Owens said she’s excited to lead the core team of 18 employees and hundreds more who serve as volunteers.
In addition to helping boost and guide new social entrepreneurs, Owens said SEG has almost completed a pilot program alongside the Hispanic Chamber, the Rhode Island Black Business Association, Center for Southeast Asians, Hope & Main, and Multicultural Innovation Center. The Community Navigator Pilot Program connects underrepresented and underserved entrepreneurs to the programs, services and capital they need to recover, grow, or start their businesses and is in the sixth quarter out of eight, she said.
“It’s the idea that each organization provides new business owners the right referral, even if they don’t offer a specific service,” she said. “There’s a lot of support in Rhode Island, but when you’re getting started out it can be daunting just figuring out where to start and what’s available. This program allows us to work together and if someone knocks on our door, we can warm-intro them.”
The two-year pilot program concludes in about six months, Owens said, and has exceeded its initial goals.
Over the next year, Owens said she’s excited to start new programs and continue other successful ones like the Micro Grant Fund, which is entering its second year with support from RI Commerce.
“I’m grateful to the board, volunteers and all of the SEG partners for this opportunity,” Owens said. “I’m feeling lucky and optimistic about the future here.”
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