Kaplan to join Asheville Chamber as Director of Entrepreneurship
(Asheville, 7/11/2018) – The Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the hire of Jeffrey Kaplan as Director of Entrepreneurship.
Starting August 6th, Kaplan will head Venture Asheville, the high-growth entrepreneurship initiative of the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County and the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. Venture Asheville grows Asheville’s startup community and connects high-growth entrepreneurs to talent, mentors and investors through unique programming and events.
“We are excited to welcome Jeffrey on board to lead Venture Asheville,” said Kit Cramer, president and CEO of the Asheville Chamber. “His experience and enthusiasm lend themselves to capitalizing on the early successes of Venture Asheville as well as innovating new programs that respond to the growth and momentum of Western North Carolina’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.”
Kaplan is no stranger to Asheville’s entrepreneurial scene. He joins the Chamber from Anthroware, a local software development company, where he was a product owner and consultant on Anthroware’s Product Development Team. Kaplan has also been active with Hatch AVL Foundation planning programs and events for the entrepreneurial community.
In addition, Kaplan has a Master of Science in Entrepreneurship from the University of Florida and has been involved in several start-ups from the ground up with experience in product development, project management and design thinking. He is also a published author in Entrepreneurship Pedagogy.
The Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce is a member organization of nearly 1700 businesses representing more than 80,000 employees in Buncombe County and beyond dedicated to building community through business by growing jobs, advocating for a business-friendly environment and helping businesses thrive. The Chamber is home to the Asheville Visitor Center that welcomes over 200,000 visitors per year. Learn more at www.ashevillechamber.org.
The Economic Development Coalition (EDC) for Asheville-Buncombe County is a public-private partnership committed to: creating and retaining high quality jobs, community leadership, and being a resource for better business decisions. The EDC accomplishes this mission through its four core services: business retention and expansion, small business and entrepreneurship, research, and marketing and recruitment. The EDC is funded by Buncombe County, the City of Asheville, the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and over 80 private investors through AVL 5×5: Vision 2020. Visit www.ashevillechamber.org/economic-development. Learn more about AVL 5×5: Vision 2020 at www.asheville5x5.com.
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