Craig Scharton is taking on accountability for Ten on the High’s entrepreneurship initiatives, generally known as the Upstate Entrepreneur Ecosystem.
He replaces Erin Ouzts who volunteered for 10 years earlier than formally creating the position in 2019, in response to a Ten at the Top information launch. Ouzts is retiring from her work at Ten on the High to give attention to different ecosystem wants and household
“Supporting entrepreneurship and particularly the service suppliers who help entrepreneurship inside our area has been a key driver space inside Ten on the High for the reason that starting of the group,” stated TATT Govt Director Dean Hybl within the launch. “Erin Ouzts has performed an incredible job cultivating relationships and constructing consciousness of the significance of getting a powerful entrepreneur ecosystem. I particularly wish to thank her for all she has performed to help entrepreneurship within the Upstate.”
“Erin will likely be powerful to exchange, however we’re very lucky to have Craig Scharton transferring into the position of facilitator for the Upstate Entrepreneur Ecosystem. Craig has nice expertise working with companies and entrepreneurs and is the best particular person to proceed TATT’s work constructing the collective capability of help suppliers and entrepreneurs within the Upstate.”
Scharton, who moved to the Upstate in June 2022, has over 35 years of progressive expertise main numerous groups in non-profit and public service environments to execute significant and modern tasks to enhance the usual of residing in native communities, the discharge said.
“Craig’s well-rounded expertise and welcoming persona make him an incredible match for this position. The Upstate Entrepreneur Ecosystem will profit from his data and skill to carry individuals collectively round advanced matters,” Ouzts stated within the launch.
In Fresno Metropolis, Calif., Scharton constructed ecosystems of help for entrepreneurs and help suppliers as senior director, Financial Growth with One by One Management, president of the California Most important Road Alliance, as a Fresno Metropolis Council member, proprietor of a restaurant, director of Central Valley Enterprise Incubator for Water and Vitality Expertise, and a number of positions with the Metropolis of Fresno and Downtown Fresno Partnership, the discharge said.
Whereas working with California Manufacturing Expertise Consulting (CMTC) (much like SC MEP), he strengthened CMTC’s relationship with 40-plus companion organizations to comprehend an extra $100 million-plus in further gross sales for small and medium-sized producers, in response to the discharge.
Scharton taught city entrepreneurship at Fresno State College as an adjunct professor for 14 years and created the Fresno Downtown Academy which acquired the Worldwide Downtown Affiliation Award in 2016. Craig has been a featured speaker at a number of occasions, together with the US Affiliation for Small Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) Nationwide Convention, the Nationwide Belief for Historic Preservation, the California Workforce Affiliation, and the California Meeting of Native Arts Companies, the discharge said.
“Erin Ouzts has constructed out an unbelievable framework for entrepreneurs and people who help them. I’m honored to have the ability to construct on her work,” stated Scharton within the launch. I really like constructing communities to help our unbiased companies from home-based cottage companies to downtown retailers to native producers. Each sector has a job in rising our entrepreneurial ecosystem.”
Scharton will proceed the Upstate Entrepreneur Ecosystem’s mission to extend the ecosystem’s capacity and capability to assist entrepreneurs be extra profitable sooner, in response to the relerase. The quarterly Upstate Entrepreneur Ecosystem, Innovation Leaders Coalition, and Rural Entrepreneurship Leaders Coalition teams will proceed to fulfill. He’ll give attention to persevering with to create consciousness of the a number of entrepreneur assets obtainable by means of the StartGrowUpstate.com useful resource navigator and connecting disconnected entrepreneurs to the ecosystem.
Attain Jason at 864-568-7570.
