Eric Zeece, a business leader with more than 25 years of experience has been appointed executive director of the new Central Oregon Innovation Hub based at Oregon State University – Cascades. Zeece will begin his new role on Nov. 11.
As executive director, Zeece will collaborate with a steering committee of diverse regional economic and entrepreneurial stakeholders to develop and provide services that help innovation-based companies in Central Oregon grow, attract investment capital and create jobs.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Eric to OSU-Cascades and to advance the Innovation Hub’s work with more than 20 area organizations as we strengthen an ecosystem where entrepreneurs from all backgrounds have opportunity and access to tools and knowledge,” said Rebecca Robinson, associate vice president of economic development and industry relations for OSU, and senior advisor for strategic initiatives at OSU-Cascades.
The Central Oregon Innovation Hub is one of nine newly founded regional collaborations around the state. Innovation Hubs are funded by Business Oregon and the Oregon Innovation Council to support regional economies and entrepreneurs, help advance innovation-based economic development, and encourage participation among populations currently underserved in the innovation economy.
The Central Oregon Innovation Hub is also funded by Economic Development for Central Oregon, The Ford Family Foundation and OSU-Cascades.
Most recently, Zeece was chief executive officer of Thyreos Inc, a startup biotech vaccine company that is commercializing technology developed at University of Nebraska, Northwestern University and Tufts University. Prior to leading Thyreos, Zeece led a consulting agency where he authored the Nebraska Department of Economic Development’s State Small Credit Initiative program application and designed more than $64 million in grant, loan and equity investment programs to support innovation and innovators in Nebraska.
Zeece has also worked as the innovation manager with Invest Nebraska Corporation, as interim director, deputy director, and chief performance officer of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, and as senior commercialization specialist with the Innovation Accelerator Foundation, a national accelerator that partnered with the National Science Foundation.
Zeece received an MBA from the University of Colorado – Colorado Springs.
Central Oregon Innovation Hub partners include the Bend Entrepreneur Lab, Bend Outdoor Worx and Outdoor Alliance, Bend Chamber of Commerce, Central Oregon Community College, Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council, City of Bend, Crook County, Cultivate Bend, Deschutes County, East Cascade Works, Economic Development for Central Oregon, East Cascades Works, Embark, Ford Family Foundation, Latino Community Association, Opportunity Knocks, Oregon Biosciences, Small Business Development Center at COCC, Rural Development Initiative and Warm Springs Economic Development Corp.
About OSU-Cascades: Oregon State University’s campus in Bend brings higher education to Central Oregon, the fastest growing region in the state. Surrounded by mountains, forest and high desert, OSU-Cascades is a highly innovative campus of a top-tier land grant research university, offering small classes that accelerate faculty-student mentoring and experiential learning. Degree programs meet industry and economic needs in areas such as innovation and entrepreneurship, natural ecosystems, health and wellness, and arts and sciences, and prepare students for tomorrow’s challenges. OSU-Cascades is expanding to serve 3,000 to 5,000 students, building a 128-acre campus with net-zero goals.