Sense of Place: Jobs Landed

I work with Louise, OTCA Executive Director, and the OTCA Board of Directors to continue the revitalization of Old Town Lansing which includes producing large scale festivals & events, beautification projects and community enhancements. On a daily basis I update our website, produce the monthly Old Town newsletter and manage our social media presence on Facebook and Twitter. Through my new position as the Communications Director I have had the opportunity to meet and build relationships with many different people throughout the community, this is my favorite part of the job. Old Town is a wonderfully tight & collaborative community with so many diverse, creative and inspiring people working together to help Old Town reach its full potential and I feel incredibly lucky to be a part of it.

On Twitter: @Danielle_Oconn

 I will be serving as a Capital Equity Intern for this coming summer and will assist in administering programs to provide access to capital for businesses across the state.  Some of the current programs include a venture capital fund, small business capital access program, in addition to some new programs that will be implemented this summer that I will be assisting with.  My professional interests include economic redevelopment in the State of Michigan as well as entrepreneurship.  In the past I have worked for a venture capitalist firm (RPM Ventures) in Ann Arbor and have been a small business owner myself and will bring these experiences with with me into the work I will be doing for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

On Twitter: @itsaDJstory

As a Co-Director of the New Economy Division for Leap, Jeff is focused on developing the culture of entrepreneurship in the Lansing Region through programs, space, and events. Programs include business accelerator services, facilitating the Lansing Regional SmartZone, funding mechanisms, as well as supporting regional business incubators. Prior to joining LEAP, Jeff spent the last 4 years as Project Manager for New Economy Initiatives for the City of East Lansing, as well as staff of the Lansing Regional Smartzone.   In these roles, Jeff helped develop the operations and management programs for the Technology Innovation Center and the Hatch student business incubator. 

On Twitter: @jothum

The New Economy Division of LEAP handles a number of different economic development initiatives on behalf of the tri-county region including: the management of the Lansing Regional SmartZone including the Technology Innovation Center & the Hatch, the administration of State of Michigan business accelerator funds and tools to help encourage the growth of startup companies, as well as a number of different “placemaking” and talent initiatives.  Our goal is to create a more entrepreneurial focused culture within the Greater Lansing region by supporting companies, places, events and assets that encourage this transformation.