SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH (November 22, 2021) – The Salt Lake Chamber and TechBuzz News announced today that Elisabeth Nebeker will lead the Wasatch Innovation Network, a 501(c)6 nonprofit with the mission of taking Utah’s innovation economy to the next level.
“Utah’s technology sector, which includes many of Utah’s most innovative companies, represents 17.6% of Utah’s economy,” according to Natalie Gochnour, director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah. The Wasatch Innovation Network is a platform of services and programs that support the key growth drivers of an innovation economy including: entrepreneurship, private and university-led innovation and supportive capital.
“Elisabeth’s experience in organizational and ecosystem development make her the ideal leader of the Wasatch Innovation Network as the inaugural director” said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance, in making the announcement. “Her passion for excellence and dedication to building up several organizations within the community make her ready to lead this new effort. Elisabeth’s experience leading the Cambia Grove healthcare innovation community gives her great insight into the process needed for the Wasatch Innovation Network. Her leadership and organizational breadth are key strengths she will bring to the table as the organization works to build the larger entrepreneurial ecosystem in Utah.”
In her new capacity, Nebeker will direct WIN’s efforts and programs that will support continued growth across Utah’s innovation ecosystem. Specifically, WIN will create mentorship programs, encourage collaboration and educational opportunities for entrepreneurs, technology transfer, foster policy development and government relations and promote the good things happening in the industry.
“The Wasatch Innovation Network is a catalyst to scale Utah’s innovation economy and drive higher quality job growth in Utah,” said Paul Ahlstrom, Chairman of TechBuzz News and co-sponsor of the Wasatch Innovation Institute. “Elisabeth Nebeker is a natural connector and community builder, and will play an instrumental role in leading impactful programs that promote Utah as a leader in innovation,” Ahlstrom said.
About Elisabeth Nebeker
Elisabeth Nebeker is Program Director of Wasatch Innovation Network, a statewide multi-disciplinary initiative to collaboratively promote research, development and commercialization with the goal of developing Utah as a global innovation economy.
Always drawn to the power of story to open hearts and minds, Elisabeth spent twenty years in strategic marketing, public relations, community building and collaborative leadership in Broadway touring and independent film with Sundance Institute and Utah Film Center.
With a degree in health science, Elisabeth’s most recent role at Cambia Grove, a health care innovation hub, returned her to a field that is at a critical point for innovating, collaborating and problem solving while also pursuing certification in Integrative Nutrition Health Coaching.
Her success has been built on relationships, listening and a genuine curiosity for learning. Being civically active through volunteering and giving back is important to Elisabeth.
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“I am excited to work with incredible leaders across multiple industries who are committed to collaboratively developing an innovation ecosystem that will offer a wide array of mentor connections, services, content and capital to benefit the Wasatch Front, State of Utah and Intermountain West in achieving transformative impact and prosperity,” said Elisabeth Nebeker at the time of the announcement. “My professional journey has been connected to innovation through a genuine curiosity and interest in building community starting with a business that valued wellness for their truck drivers when few were, providing affordable housing for artist, giving independent filmmakers a platform to reach audiences, bringing Broadway touring to Salt Lake City, using film to bring community together and most recently changing health care to be person focused and financially sustainable. Finding creative solutions is innovation and is essential to all industries, Wasatch Innovation Network is dedicated to support and build up our Innovation Economy to be best in class.”
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About the Wasatch Innovation Network:
The Wasatch Innovation Network, a joint venture between Salt Lake Chamber and TechBuzz News, is founded on the belief that business leaders are stewards and creators, not just beneficiaries, of our entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Wasatch Innovation Network will provide a channel for that ecosystem and work to turn vision into reality through collaborating on innovation across industries, planning and creating to accelerate job growth, talent recruitment and economic prosperity. This will benefit the Wasatch Front, State of Utah, and Intermountain West in achieving transformative impact.
About the Salt Lake Chamber:
The Salt Lake Chamber is Utah’s largest and longest-standing business association. A statewide chamber of commerce with members in all 29 Utah counties, the Chamber represents the broad interests of the state’s 63,000-plus employers, which employ more than 1.4 million Utahns. This includes thousands of members and their employees. With roots that date back to 1887, the Chamber stands as the voice of business, supports its members’ success and champions community prosperity.
About TechBuzz News:
TechBuzz News is on a mission to shine a spotlight on important things happening in the Utah technology and startup community. We strive to be a fair, independent voice for the Utah tech scene. TechBuzz is a Utah-based news agency collecting and distributing news stories to individuals and other news organizations about the Utah technology sector and general Utah economy via our own website, techbuzz.news, our weekly newsletter, and syndication partners such as UtahBusiness.
