Jay Bigelow, most recently chief executive officer at life science marketing agency MicroMass Communications, is joining the Council for Entrepreneurial Development as director of entrepreneurship.
Bigelow’s appointment was announced Thursday evening.
“We are pleased that Jay is part of the CED team,” said Joan Siefert Rose, CED’s president. “Jay has lived the entrepreneur journey. His perspective, knowledge and expertise align with our core audience. We look forward to expanding our services and programs for entrepreneurs with Jay on board.”
Bigelow will focus on several business basic programs at CED, which is the largest organization of its kind in the southeast.
Before joining CED, Bigelow worked at MicroMass for 16 years, the past six years as its CEO.
Programs that Bigelow will oversee include:
- FastTrac TechVenture, a 10-week intensive business-planning program for early-stage entrepreneurs
- The CED Venture Mentoring Service (VMS), which connects early- and growth-stage entrepreneurs to top mentors and provides guidance and fuel for growth
- Investor Brown Bag, a series which connects local and out-of-region investors to North Carolina startups
- PitchScrub, which helps qualified entrepreneurs refine and perfect their investor pitches.
“The various programs CED offers are a tremendous suite of services available to the entrepreneurs in the region,” Bigelow said in a statement. “CED has helped thousands of companies start, build and expand their businesses. I am excited to join CED and, standing on the shoulders of giants, help grow, enhance and extend these programs.”
Registration for the fall 2012 FastTrac program is now open.
