What’s next at Innovate Raleigh? Interim leader steps down, search is on for replacement

RALEIGH – Innovate Raleigh is again seeking an executive director, as Clark Rinehart recently stepped down from the role of interim executive director after being appointed to the role in August 2021.

Rinehart announced the transition in a LinkedIn post made during the final day in service as the organization’s interim executive director.

“I can’t wait to get back to focusing on my startup life each day,” wrote Rinehart in the post, adding “and helping grow this community of colleagues/changemakers.”

He also teased in the post that an announcement about what’s next for him could be coming.

“It was my intent to be a great interim executive director for the organization, but to return to my startups and ecosystem work regionally,” Rinehart told WRAL TechWire this week.

Clark Rinehart shares why stepping down from Innovate Raleigh was right for organization, region

Stepping up, jumping in

Rinehart replaced Bridget Harrington, who stepped down from the role of executive director in August 2021 after nearly four years of service to join Thinc Strategy as its chief operating officer, WRAL TechWire reported.

Rinehart noted in the LinkedIn post that Harrington was among those who encouraged him to “jump in.”

“I wasn’t sure I’d be able to pull it off alongside of my startup life,” Rinehart told WRAL TechWire this week. “But, Innovate Raleigh has a great group of champions and supporters that rallied to bring together a showcase of our entrepreneurial ecosystem’s emerging voices.”

Now, the organization is set to bring on board a new leader.

So says Jason Widen, a co-founder and the executive director of Raleigh Founded and a board member of Innovate Raleigh, told WRAL TechWire this week.

A decision could be made by September, Derrick Minor, a senior consultant, HR & payroll ops at VACO and an Innovate Raleigh board member, told WRAL TechWire.

“We are grateful for the time Clark has spent with us as Interim Executive Director,” said Minor. “His leadership has been critical during the time of transition from our prior ED and the Board of Directors is working hard to organize for the 2022-2023 season.”

Innovate Raleigh’s executive director Bridget Harrington steps down

What’s next

In October 2021, the organization celebrated its tenth anniversary of delivering an annual summit on the city’s innovation economy.

“From my perspective, we cannot truly be a world-class region without making sure people, tech workers and non-tech workers alike, have space in our community to thrive personally and professionally,” Rinehart told WRAL TechWire in October during the event.

He noted at the time that the organization must play a role in “leveling up” the entire region and its people.

“We will connect the business and social fabric of our region through dynamic partnerships,” Rinehart said at the time. “Innovate Raleigh will have the same energy and spirit of its founding team, but it will position itself to address the challenges of a fast-paced region.”

“Innovate Raleigh has accomplished so many goals on behalf of our community over its first 10 years, but this region and ecosystem have changed dramatically year-over-year,” said Rinehart this week, noting that Innovate Raleigh is working hard to adapt as the region changes.

“With that goal in mind, the organization needs someone who can fully focus on the organization,” he told WRAL TechWire. “We have to ensure that our entire community is participating in the economic growth of the region. People are being left out!”

Innovate Raleigh Summit celebrates successes of past 10 years with an eye to the future

Moving forward

Last November, Rinehart authored a column on gratitude for WRAL TechWire in Raleigh, noting appreciation for community and for our region’s teachers.

“In my opinion, Innovate Raleigh and its cohort of entrepreneurs and champions will help to solve these difficult civic and social issues in its next 10 years by building strong relationships, telling the full truth about our growth, and creating companies that reflect the true spirit of the Triangle,” Rinehart said. But he’ll be jumping back in to his startup work, he shared last week.

Rinehart’s LinkedIn profile already notes roles as the founder of Coworking NC and founder of Steeple Collective, as well as a role of founding partner at Trailblaze Development Co.

“The ecosystem has substantially matured over the past decade, with growth of existing partners & programs, as well as the creation of new ones,” Minor said. “We are working closely with our strategic partners & key stakeholders to determine ‘What’s Next’ for IR moving forward.”

WRAL TechWire freelance reporter Sarah Glova is also a board member of Innovate Raleigh. Glova told WRAL TechWire reporter Jason Parker this week that the organization has been a “huge catalyst for a lot of the ecosystem growth we’ve seen” though noted that there are still challenges ahead for the organization and for the community.

“Innovate Raleigh has always been about bringing the community together to serve entrepreneurship and innovation,” said Glova. “It’s a good question—what’s next for the organization?”