DETROIT – Ned Staebler, who has served as vice president of economic development at Wayne State University received a new title Monday when he was named President and CEO of TechTown, replacing Leslie Smith, who took a similar job in Memphis.
Staebler?s apointement was confirmed by the Univesity board on Monday. He remains in his current job until assuming his new position on March 16.
TechTown was created by WSU in 2000 to serve as an incubator and accelerator for startups developed at the university and for other startups in Detroit without university ties.
Staebler?s office at WSU oversees several small business support programs, including the Blackstone LaunchPad student entrepreneurship center, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses initiative and The Front Door for Business Engagement center.
TechTown reported from 2007 to 2014 it served 1,026 companies that then raised more than $107 million in startup capital and generated nearly 1,200 new jobs.
Prior to joining WSU in 2011, Staebler was vice president for capital access and business acceleration at the Michigan Economic Development Corp.
