Tuesday - Friday, March 13-16, 2007

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Don Betts, Program Director

Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute
Voice: (912) 389-4324
Email: don.betts@innovate.gatech.edu







Don Betts serves as the program director for the Georgia Centers of Innovation program, which includes multiple state government and university system partners. Each center supports the growth of an existing strategic industry cluster by fostering joint industry-university applied research, providing incubation services to technology start-up companies, and providing entrepreneurial training and outreach to its region. The six centers are located in Tifton (agribusiness), Savannah (maritime logistics), Augusta (biotechnology), Columbus (information technology), Warner Robins (aerospace), and Gainesville (manufacturing). His responsibilities include supporting and coordinating the operations of each center to ensure program goals are met.

Previously, he managed EDTV’s enterprise development efforts, comprising the ENet program, the Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center, and the Georgia Minority Business Development Center. Respectively, these help communities develop and implement strategies for encouraging and supporting entrepreneurs, assist firms statewide in obtaining government contracts, and provide business and technical assistance to minority entrepreneurs in Georgia.

A Georgia native and based in Douglas, Don is a graduate of Emory University in Atlanta. He served eight years in the U.S. Navy, first as a business officer on a nuclear submarine and then on the staff of the Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, a four-star admiral in Washington, D.C. Returning to Georgia, he spent the next 10 years as executive director for the chamber of commerce and industrial authority in two Georgia communities. During this time, he successfully recruited several large industries and implemented numerous innovative programs for both the chamber and the industrial authority. Don also has three years of experience operating a privately owned property development and management company.

A 1992 graduate of Leadership Georgia, Don has earned the designation of Certified Economic Developer from the International Economic Development Council and is a graduate of the U. S. Chamber of Commerce’s Organizational Management Institute at the University of Georgia. He has also served on the board of directors for the Georgia Economic Developers Association, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Executives Association, and several other state and regional boards.

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