Whitewater city officials have announced that Elizabeth Thelen has been appointed to serve as the executive director of the Whitewater University Technology Park and Community Engagement Center.
Thelen was appointed by the Whitewater University Technology Park Board of Directors, according to information released Tuesday.
According to the release: “after an extensive nationwide search, the search committee narrowed the prospects down to three final candidates for in-person interviews.”
Within the release, Thelen was described as “a leader working at the intersection of technology, economic development and people. She has dedicated her career to connecting people, leading projects and organizations, and getting things done. Elizabeth does this by building trusted relationships, strong networks and a passion for technology.”
The release named BDHS Consulting, AeroX Tech, The Water Council, HRDC, Slinger Speedway, and the Midwest Innovation Exchange as organizations Thelen has founded, co-founded or led.
She sits on a number of business advisory boards, including the Wisconsin Aerospace Advisory Board as its secretary and is the Wisconsin chapter leader of the national non-profit, Independent Women’s Network, the release noted.
As an entrepreneur, the release continued, Thelen “has the experience of what it takes to build a team, manage financials, inspire vision and implement for results. She has real world experience in technology projects, working with startups and researchers, organizing and leading teams, and leading businesses through change.
“Acting as president, vice president, director, network builder, coach, facilitator, or whatever title she has, Elizabeth brings energy, optimism and results to all her assignments. Not only will she support the Whitewater entrepreneurial community, but also contribute to the broader Wisconsin Entrepreneurial ecosystem.”
In support of the board’s choice, Kevin Kaufman, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater business outreach director and a member of the search committee, said within the release: “Elizabeth brings a deep network and is known as a great leader in entrepreneurial support in southeastern Wisconsin.”
“I look forward to collaborating with Elizabeth to continue the partnership between the city of Whitewater and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. We will be working closely to build on the Innovation Center’s successes to bring new businesses and a new tax base to the industrial park,” John Weidl, Whitewater city manager and the vice president of the Whitewater University Technology Park, stated in the release.
Said Thelen: “We all look forward to reigniting the Innovation Center’s vision with the city of Whitewater and technology park. We need to dig deep and ask who do we want to be and how will we get there? Be bold! Be clear!”
About the Whitewater University Technology Park
According to the release, the city of Whitewater, the Whitewater Community Development Authority, and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater partnered and founded the Whitewater University Technology Park and Innovation Center in 2011. As the cornerstone of the 130-acre Whitewater University Technology Park, the Whitewater University Innovation Center is a mixed-use incubator and serves as a community for entrepreneurs.
About the Community Engagement Center
According to the release, the vision of the Community Engagement Center is to provide resources for successful meetings and events to help move the community forward. It is designed to combine ideas and organizations with the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater campus. The Community Engagement Center opened in December 2019.
Elizabeth Thelen
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