Peoria, IL,
02
December
2020
|
09:54 AM
America/Chicago

Distillery Labs Names First Executive Director

Paul Leamon, experienced entrepreneur, investor and technologist to lead state-of-the-art entrepreneurship hub

DistilleryLabs-Logo_Blue_WhiteBG

酒厂实验室任命保罗·利蒙为该组织的第一任执行董事。伊利诺斯州皮奥里亚市中心的技术和创新中心Distillery Lab阿根廷vs巴西s预计将于2021年开业。

Leamon, who has an extensive background as an entrepreneur, investor, corporate innovator and technology leader, will take the reins on January 4, 2021, and will be charged with building, launching, and leading the world-class technology incubation facility.

“I’m honored to be chosen to lead Distillery Labs,” said Leamon. “I am excited about the possibilities as we set out to build a thriving, vibrant center for the community that can have an impact on Peoria for generations to come. I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and start working with all of the entrepreneurs, partners, corporations and organizations in Greater Peoria. Together, we are going to build an organization that will become an institution in Peoria and will create opportunity throughout our region.”

Leamon has a nearly 30-year career in entrepreneurship and technology. He has served as the founder of multiple technology startups and venture capital / entrepreneurship networks, including V.DEV, Juiced Ventures, and Wellfount. He has previously served as the chair of the entrepreneurship committee at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Business, and is a limited partner with a venture capital firm.

Leamon has worked for corporations in technology development and innovation and also has extensive fundraising experience.

“OSF HealthCare has been part of a group driving Distillery Labs’ development, and we now need a strong and experienced leader to take this visionary center from concept to reality,” said Bob Sehring, CEO of OSF HealthCare and chairman of the Distillery Labs board. “We’re excited and confident to welcome Paul Leamon to lead Distillery Labs as its first Executive Director. Our board members and partners look forward to the important work he will take on.”

Distillery Labs, which will be funded through a $10 million grant that is part of the larger Illinois Innovation Network, will be located at the Thomas Building, a 50,000 square foot facility formerly occupied by Illinois Central College. Distillery Labs will ultimately be a tech, innovation and incubation community designed to foster opportunity throughout the Greater Peoria region. It will have classes, workshops, public-private partnerships, student opportunities, and more.

伊利诺斯中央学院校长兼酿酒实验室董事会成员Sheila Quirk-Bailey博士说:“保罗作为候选人和领导者给我留下了深刻的印象。”“经过我们广泛的搜索过程,所有的候选人都给我留下了深刻的印象,我们看到了一个多样化的、充满活力的候选人名单。我很高兴能与Paul和整个社区合作,我们将于2021年推出酒厂实验室。我们将一起为整个地区及其人民做出伟大的贡献。”

Leamon’s charge as Executive Director of Distillery Labs will include:

  • 领导流程,设计、建造并在2021年底前启动5万平方英尺的设施。
  • Building out a team and staff for Distillery Labs, with a focus on developing a diverse, vibrant, inclusive organization that is representative of the entire region.
  • Attracting and populating the Distillery Labs space with members and partners, including startups / entrepreneurs, university partners, corporations, venture capitalists/angel investors/other technology investors, non-profit organizations (such as the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council), and members of the community.
  • 筹款和企业发展——特别是寻求和获得企业合作伙伴关系,这将推动酒厂实验室的发展,并建立一个强大的战略,为组织寻求和获得赠款资金。
  • 开发和扩展酒厂实验室的虚拟范围,让整个大皮奥里亚地区的人们都能接触到该设施的编程、资源和创新。阿根廷vs巴西
  • Building, expanding and driving a diversity and inclusion strategy for the Labs that ensures that in every fashion the Labs are both representative of the community and a leader in driving opportunity for everyone.

Leamon was chosen after an extensive search process, which involved interviews by a committee of stakeholders, including entrepreneurs, business leaders, public officials, and the Distillery Labs board. The committee considered a diverse and extensive slate of candidates, with a particular focus on ensuring that many different profiles of potential leaders were represented. Leamon was chosen because of his broad experience across all the elements of the Distillery Labs position.

“On behalf of the entrepreneurial community in Peoria, I’m excited to welcome Paul to our ecosystem and am looking forward to working with him to create more opportunities for startup founders, investors, and entrepreneurs,” said Jake Hamann, Founder and Executive Director of the Peoria Innovation Alliance. Peoria Innovation Alliance is working with Distillery Labs to craft a partnership agreement through which the two organizations will cooperate on key initiatives in the entrepreneurship and technology space.

“倾听各行各业企业家的声音并为他们创造机会,对大皮奥里亚经济的未来绝对至关重要。我们有一个真正的机会共同努力,建立一套资源、工具、机构和项目,使皮奥里亚多年来成为这一领域的领导者。I am excited at the potential for Peoria Innovation Alliance to partner with Distillery Labs in achieving this goal.”

In Leamon’s free time, you’ll find him enjoying home remodeling projects and cross-country camping trips with his family. Paul’s wife, Cheryl, is an executive in the financial services industry and his two boys are students, the oldest in college studying Informatics and the youngest in high school. Together, just about anything outdoors factors prominently into their family life, from golfing and tennis to kayaking and sailing.

Leamon will start with Distillery Labs officially on January 4, 2021. However, in celebration of the winter holidays, he’ll be appearing on “Whiskey Talks,” Distillery Labs’ very successful interview program, on the evening of January 7. Paul will be interviewed and will also be taking questions from the general public in that event. To learn more, visitwww.DistilleryLabs.org.

Boilerplate

Distillery Labsis expected to open in 2021, and will be a 50,000 square foot technology and innovation center in the heart of Peoria. ThePeoria Innovation Hub, launched in 2019, is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to supporting the development and operation of Distillery Labs.