ANN ARBOR – SPARK, an alliance of the Ann Arbor IT Zone, the Washtenaw Development Council, the University of Michigan as well as other key academic and business groups, has named an executive director for its business accelerator.
Skip Simms, the former managing general parter of Ralph Wilson Equity Fund in Grosse Point Park, assumed his new position Jan. 16. He reports to Michael Finney, SPARK president and CEO.
“Skip Simms has a strong background bridging the equity investment and business worlds,” Finney said. “Skip’s experience will be extremely valuable in enabling SPARK to accelerate and retain innovation-focused companies in our region.”
Simms will manage the overall operations of the business accelerator including, review, selection and project management for accelerator clients. He will also be responsible for establishing and nurturing relationships to accelerate the growth of tech companies in the Ann Arbor region. The accelerator had been part of the Ann Arbor IT Zone.
SPARK collaborates with business, academic, government, and community investor partners including the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, the Herbert and Grace Dow Foundation, Pfizer, Washtenaw County, the City of Ann Arbor, the Bank of Ann Arbor and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
