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Region\u2019s Innovation Economy and Technology Community to Benefit Roanoke, VA\u2014Valleys Innovation Council (VIC), Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council (RBTC), and the Regional Accelerator and Mentoring Program (RAMP) today announced they are joining forces in a strategic alliance. The new alliance will drive initiatives that support the region\u2019s innovation economy and technology community.<\/p>\n
Greg Feldmann, serving as the CEO of the aligned organizations, said, \u201cThis alliance creates a welcoming regional \u2018front door\u2019 from all three groups\u2014VIC, RBTC and RAMP. Together, we are better positioned to connect the region\u2019s technology community and support programs to innovators, founders, and funders to drive plans and activities to support growth of technology-based companies. The alliance will also foster partnering opportunities with regional businesses, entrepreneurial support organizations, the education sector, and local, state and federal governments.\u201d<\/p>\n
John Phillips will remain President of RBTC and Dr. Mary Miller will remain Director of RAMP. Dr. Meredith Hundley will serve as Director of Research, Planning, and Grants. As CEO, Greg Feldmann will oversee the operations of VIC, RBTC, and RAMP.<\/p>\n
All three organizations will work together to unify and coordinate efforts. Together, they will be more efficient, effective, and capable of mobilizing resources, advocating for changes, and tracking progress towards goals and key performance indicators. Sponsors, donors, and grantors may earmark their support to specific projects among the three entities.<\/p>\n
Feldmann added, \u201cWorking as one team, we will also focus on attracting interest and funding for the region\u2019s existing and budding industry clusters\u2014such as emerging technologies like autonomous systems, cybersecurity, and blockchain, IT, advanced manufacturing, and health and life sciences.\u201d<\/p>\n
The alliance\u2019s work covers Region 2 of GO Virginia\u2014bringing opportunities to build the innovation economy and engage in the technology community from Pulaski County to the Alleghany Highlands, through the Roanoke Valley and east to Lynchburg and its surrounding counties. Commenting on the structure the alliance creates, Doug Juanarena, former VIC Co-Chair New River Valley, and Victor Iannello, former VIC Co-Chair Roanoke Valley, said, \u201cThe alliance increases VIC\u2019s ability to be the strategic planner and connection point to resources and support organizations. We expect to see existing technology companies expand and new ones start, grow, and thrive in the region. We also believe this alliance will increase our region\u2019s competitiveness for future funding under the Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority and GO Virginia, as well as from federal and private foundation sources.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kevin Bloomfield, former RBTC Co-Chair, and John Phillips, President of RBTC said, \u201cRBTC\u2019s role will remain a membership-driven entity and will continue to be the voice and home for the region\u2019s vibrant technology community. This alliance will allow even more options to partner with organizations to deliver professional 2 development opportunities through seminars, webinars, events, and mentorship programs. We\u2019ll work to engage our tech company leaders and their employees and to establish connections to organizations and resources that can help businesses grow and prosper.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Mary Miller, Director of RAMP said, \u201cWe\u2019re delighted to align with these groups and the result will be enriched programming and mentorship for our cohorts. This partnership will further strengthen the value of RAMP as a business accelerator.\u201d<\/p>\n
Virginia Western Community College President, Dr. Robert H. Sandel said, \u201cAs one of the founding community partners of RAMP, and a long-time supporter of RBTC and VIC, we continue to believe we can grow companies and keep talent in this region, whether it\u2019s in information technology, advanced manufacturing, biosciences, or other entrepreneurial efforts. The strategic alliance between RBTC, VIC, and RAMP should give RAMP an even greater ability to make an impact on growing our regional economy.\u201d<\/p>\n
A unified board of directors and an aligned management team will work to execute the alliance\u2019s coordinated strategies. VIC and RBTC have a strong history of working together on grants and funding for RAMP, as well as other activities. Bloomfield and Juanarena will serve as co-chairs of the strategic alliance\u2019s board.<\/p>\n
Feldmann added, \u201cAs part of the alignment path, we are also evaluating the current organizations\u2019 websites and names and how best to identify the alliance with a new name that imparts its overall mission, structure, and geography. We expect to start this project before September.\u201d<\/p>\n
The alliance will continue to co-locate with an office in the CRC in Blacksburg and at RAMP in Roanoke.<\/p>\n
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Organizations in this Alliance and its Board of Directors:<\/strong> Valleys Innovation Council supports the region by connecting, communicating, and collaborating with stakeholders to grow and strengthen our region\u2019s innovation economy. VIC is a 501(c)(3) organization. To learn more, visit valleysinnovation.org <\/em><\/p>\n Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council is a member-driven association working to promote the growth of the Roanoke-Blacksburg technology and innovation community. Membership ranges from emerging technology firms to the largest employers in the region. RBTC is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization. To learn more, visit rbtc.tech.<\/em><\/p>\n Regional Accelerator and Mentorship Program (RAMP) is the region\u2019s accelerator program that works to identify and support the growth of the region\u2019s technology-based startup community through coordinated mentoring, educational programming, and increased access to capital that will foster a more vibrant and diverse regional economy. The program is a partnership of the City of Roanoke, Virginia Western Community College Educational Foundation, and the Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council. To learn about RAMP, visit ramprb.com.<\/em><\/p>\n Board of Directors:<\/strong> Co-Chairs: Kevin Bloomfield \u2022 Doug Juanarena Eddie Amos \u2022 Amy Ankrum \u2022 Henry Bass \u2022 John Capps \u2022 David Catalano \u2022 Kathy Claytor \u2022 Nick Conte Steve Critchfield \u2022 Donald Deeds \u2022 Russ Ellis \u2022 Greg Feldmann \u2022 Ken Ferris \u2022 William Fralin \u2022 Mike Friedlander Cheryl Giggetts \u2022 Pat Huber \u2022 Victor Iannello \u2022 Ed Lawhorn \u2022 Frank Lucia \u2022 Joe Meredith \u2022 Marty Muscatello Patrick Patterson \u2022 Sean Peters \u2022 John Phillips \u2022 John Rainone \u2022 Robert Sandel \u2022 Barbara Schleider \u2022 Beth Sherman Jeff Smith \u2022 Brian Soller \u2022 Bob Stolle \u2022 Wayne Strickland \u2022 Marjorie Tenzer \u2022 Don Taylor \u2022 Beth Waller Clark Worthy<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Region\u2019s Innovation Economy and Technology Community to Benefit Roanoke, VA\u2014Valleys Innovation Council (VIC), Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council (RBTC), and the Regional Accelerator and Mentoring Program (RAMP) today announced they are joining forces in a strategic alliance. The new alliance will drive initiatives that support the region\u2019s innovation economy and technology community. Greg Feldmann, serving as the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1407,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n