| Eldridge Promoted to President and CEO of the Ada Jobs Foundation |
James Eldridge has been promoted to the role of CEO and President by the Ada Jobs Foundation Board of Directors after serving in the role of Interim CEO and President.
James was hired by the Ada Jobs Foundation (AJF) in April 2016 and came to the Ada community with a Master's Degree in Regional and City Planning from the University of Oklahoma. Prior to coming to Ada, Eldridge served as Executive Director of the Uptown 23rd District Association in Oklahoma City, and worked with the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, University of Oklahoma, and as an AmeriCorps Service Member.
"I am excited to continue working in Ada and launch new plan of work for 2018," James Eldridge said, "Ada has a wonderful community and resources for businesses and entrepreneurs. I hope to continue to help Ada build on these assets."
"These are exciting times for Ada," said AJF Board Chair Lori Wightman, "I think we have a unique window of opportunity in the next 3-5 years to make tremendous progress in terms of economic development, and James Eldridge serving as the President and CEO of the Ada Jobs Foundation will be instrumental in helping us meet our goals."
|
 |
|
Ghosh Joins AJF as Entrepreneurship Specialist
|
Srijita "Dia" Ghosh joins the Ada Jobs Foundation (AJF) as an Entrepreneurship Specialist, formerly working as an intern for AJF to develop an entrepreneurship strategy. Ghosh graduated in December from the Harland C Stonecipher School of Business at East Central University with an undergraduate degree in Business Management with certificates in Entrepreneurship, Finance, and Human Resources. Ghosh is an entrepreneur and brings experience in this field of work to the position. She placed second overall in the Small Business Division of the i2E Love's Cup competition in 2017 for her product StoPanic and was recognized with the top prize at the Tiger Tank Competition for her business idea Elixir.
"I am an entrepreneur and having the opportunity to work with other area entrepreneurs is a great opportunity." Dia Ghosh said, "I chose to attend school in Ada and am glad I can continue to help the community by working full time for the Ada Jobs Foundation."
"Dia's track record of working in entrepreneurship will be an asset as the organization implements entrepreneurial support programs in the coming year." said James Eldridge, President and CEO of the Ada Jobs Foundation, "I'm glad Dia's work as an intern for AJF was able to evolve into a full-time position."
The Entrepreneurship Strategy developed by Ghosh during her time as an intern will be shared with the Ada community in the next few weeks. The strategy provides actionable steps for the coming year to build on AJF's current work to identify and improve entrepreneurial services, assets, and the culture of entrepreneurship in Ada.
|
|
|
Ada Jobs Foundation Producing Entrepreneurs
|
|
|
| Jim Lawson, left, Industrial Coordinator and Manufacturing Specialist at the Pontotoc Technology Center's Fab Lab, demonstrates one of the lab's 3-D printers to Ada Jobs Foundation President and CEO James Eldridge and Entrepreneurship Specialist Srijita Dia Ghosh in front. Photo by Michael Clements, Journal Record News |
ADA - Stacey Bolin, assistant professor and director of the Wilburn L. Smith Center for Entrepreneurship at East Central University, is passionate about entrepreneurs.
"We need entrepreneurs," she said. "They are the driving force of our economy."
James Eldridge agreed. Eldridge is president and CEO of the Ada Jobs Foundation. He is also dedicated to encouraging entrepreneurs in Ada. Eldridge said Ada has a history of entrepreneurship that has produced businesses that are industry leaders. However, he warned that a community cannot rest on its laurels.
"If you're not getting that next generation of entrepreneurs ready, it will be harder to compete," Eldridge said.
So the Ada Jobs Foundation is finding ways to produce entrepreneurs who will make Ada their base. Over the years the foundation has engaged in traditional economic development such as business incubators and networking events. Recently the group began focusing on entrepreneurs.
Read More from the Journal Record News Article HERE.
|
|
|
Ada Hosts Spring Entrepreneurial Summit
|
|
|
 |
| Becky McCray to speak on Innovative Rural Business Models in Ada on March 9 |
|
The Ada Jobs Foundation (AJF) is dedicated to improving entrepreneurial services, assets and the culture of entrepreneurship in Ada. With entrepreneurship as a leading focus for the AJF, they along with the Chickasaw Nation Small Business Development Center, University of Oklahoma Tom Love Innovation Hub, Pontotoc Technology Center, and East Central University Wilburn L. Smith Center for Entrepreneurship will host the Ada Spring Entrepreneurial Summit on March 9 from 8 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the McSwain Theater, 130 W Main Street, Ada, Oklahoma.
The Entrepreneurial Summit is a day of free workshops for entrepreneurs and small businesses capped off with a lunch and keynote presentation from Becky McCray on Innovative Rural Business Models.
The day will start at 8 a.m. with the opportunity to network, followed by an introduction to local resources for entrepreneurs and small businesses, then speakers from across the state representing venture capital firms and incubators will provide an overview of state resources that are available to help start-ups grow. The day will conclude with lunch keynote speaker Becky McCray. McCray has presented her program on rural trends, downtown development and small business at over 200 events including entrepreneur conferences, small town events, ag groups, economic development organizations, and chambers of commerce in the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia.
"Registration is free, but seating is limited." Shared Ada Jobs Foundation President James Eldridge, "We ask everyone to RSVP as soon as possible. We're very excited to share the many resources available locally and across the state, in addition to having Becky McCray speak."
For more information contact the Ada Jobs Foundation at 580.235.0070 or [email protected]
|
|
Ada Spring
Entrepreneurial Summit
March 9 from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Free to Attend! Limited Seating!
Register HERE!
|
|
