Jeff Mazur, the former leader of local technology training nonprofit LaunchCode, is taking on an executive role with a new St. Louis research institute focused on geospatial technology.
The Taylor Geospatial Institute (TGI), which launched in April 2022, has hired Mazur as its first director of government and industry partnerships, effective Jan. 17.
Mazur’s new role involves overseeing the pursuit of research partnerships between TGI and the government and private sectors. TGI said that will include partnerships focused on joint-funded research and co-development collaborations with businesses and government agencies.
“Jeff Mazur is an experienced leader who will engage with the TGI consortium to grow research, talent and services while building partnerships across the industry and region,” said Vasit Sagan, acting TGI director and associate professor of geospatial science at Saint Louis University. “He has a proven record of strategic leadership in technology and promoting great work in this area.”
Mazur stepped down as executive director of LaunchCode in September 2022 and had been its longest-serving leader since its founding in 2013. He became executive director of LaunchCode, which provides free technology training and places aspiring computer programmers in apprenticeships and jobs, in 2017. He was the nonprofit’s vice president of partnerships prior to being named executive director. Mazur was executive director of AFSCME Council 72 in Columbia, Missouri, before he joined LaunchCode.
Mazur’s tenure at LaunchCode included growing the nonprofit's revenue to more than $15 million, up from $3.8 million in 2015, expanding to new markets and renovating its headquarters at 4811 Delmar Blvd.
Mazur joins TGI as it builds out operations following its launch last year. TGI includes eight regional research institutions and aims to expand St. Louis’ position as a hub of geospatial research and innovation. It is targeting research around the topics of food security, geospatial science and computation, health care, and national security.
“I am honored to join an institution whose people and partners are using geospatial data to solve some of the world's most pressing challenges,” Mazur said.” By working to bring new companies and government agencies into collaboration with TGI I am excited to play a small role in realizing the Institute's vast and compelling research vision.”
TGI is funded through a “legacy investment” from Andy Taylor, executive chairman of Clayton-based rental car giant Enterprise Holdings Inc., and capital from its eight members. Member institutions include the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Harris-Stowe State University, Missouri University of Science & Technology, Saint Louis University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Missouri-Columbia, University of Missouri-St. Louis and Washington University.
