Kennedy named executive director of Tech Valley Center of Gravity
TROY, N.Y. » The board of directors for the Tech Valley Center of Gravity ( TVCOG) announced the appointment of Cheryl Kennedy as the organization’s executive director.
TVCOG is a makerspace, prototyping center, manufacturing incubator, STEAM- education center and creative community located in downtown Troy.
“We’re exceptionally pleased that Cheryl Kennedy is taking on the executive director role; she came on as interim executive director in March of this year to assist in the transition of the organization following Holly CargillCramer’s departure, and we’ve appreciated the dedication she has had to the organization,” Michael Lobsinger, TVCOG’s chairman of the board said in a press release.
“She has kept us moving in the right direction while we considered our next steps. Holly carried the vision and mission to a new level; her professionalism leaves the Tech Valley Center of Gravity with many successes to be celebrated. We are confident that Cheryl will build on the successes we’ve had with our recent expansion into prototyping and our manufacturing incubator, as well as moving forward board priorities for the makerspace — we want to diversify TVCOG’s programming and educational options and focus on fundraising; she has the experience and energy to hit the ground running with those initiatives.”
Kennedy’s hire comes after four months of administrating the organization as interim executive director, succeeding Holly Cargill-Cramer who departed the organization to become a partner at Association Development Group, a strategic marketing and management firm located in Albany. Kennedy comes to the Center of Gravity with extensive experience in operations, economic development, grant writing, and fundraising at a time where the strategic focus of the makerspace is to grow membership and diversify revenue.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the Tech Valley Center of Gravity and to tell the story of this organization, which is beyond extraordinary,” Kennedy said. “A makerspace and creative community are not just readily made with some empty space and equipment, while those qualities are important the reality of COG’s success is driven by its members — and they are the most innovative, energetic, optimistic, and mentor-minded group of people I have ever met!
“They consistently use tech and maker innovation practices to engage with the world around them.”
For those in the Capital Region who haven’t heard of the “maker movement” yet, or think that they aren’t a maker-minded person, Kennedy encouraged a visit to the space. “The Center of Gravity is for EVERYONE. Our membership community is diversifying and democratizing access to the tools and education needed to create and realize visionary ideas — the tools and knowledge that can help remake the future.”
Kennedy started her relationship with the Center of Gravity in 2016. As the former economic development coordinator for the City of Troy, she organized and funded two consecutive small business summits at the makerspace and was a coworking member of the facility.
Since her start as interim executive director, she has been working closely with staff, board, and volunteers to reorganize and boost educational offerings, as well as focus on revenue generation from programming, sponsorships, and grants.