The Fredonia Technology Incubator (FTI) welcomes Monica Kemp to its staff. Ms. Kemp had served as a Research Support Assistant at the New York State Center for Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences at the University at Buffalo. At FTI Kemp will serve as the Administrative Assistant.
“We are fortunate to be able to bring someone as talented as Ms. Kemp on board at the incubator,” said Interim Incubator Director Chuck Cornell. “She has been working at a university-sponsored incubator and also brings with her prior experience in the business community. This addition expands our ability to support our client business start-ups and create jobs in the community.”
At Fredonia, Ms. Kemp will oversee bookkeeping, manage the facility, track impact data, coordinate incubator events and programming, facilitate communications, coordinate with community partners, and manage external communications. In her new role she will also be the project manager on new and exciting initiatives at the incubator such as event and workshop planning, social media, organizational changes and community engagement.
“I am excited to join the staff at the Fredonia Technology Incubator and look forward to playing a role in fulfilling the mission of Fredonia to engage the community and impact the local economy,” said Ms. Kemp.
At the University at Buffalo Center of Excellence, Ms. Kemp played an integral role in research administration, event planning, business development, finance, grant development and building operations. She was also the administrator for the SUNY Network of Excellence in Materials and Advanced Manufacturing.
She has also worked at M&T Risk Management and Travelers Indemnity as the Regional Claims Coordinator. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Art History from the University at Buffalo.
Ms. Kemp is also very involved in her community, volunteering for Habitat for Humanity and the United Way. She is also an athlete who qualified for the Corporate Challenge Championship and placed at many local races for charity.
Funding to support the position was made possible by a $300,000, three-year grant from The John R. Oishei Foundation of Buffalo to support the incubator’s mission of creating jobs and cultivating entrepreneurial opportunities in the region and provide expanded services and resources that promote the interaction of technology and the arts.
The Fredonia Technology Incubator promotes economic growth in Western New York by supporting entrepreneurship and the development of new, innovative companies into successful business ventures. The incubator creates jobs in the community, develops real-world internships and training opportunities for students, attracts and retains graduates for the area, provides a first-class facility for community activities, and provides support services to community organizations and leaders.
The incubator is part of Fredonia’s Division of Engagement and Economic Development (EED), established in 2013 to facilitate and support university-community collaborations that enhance the intellectual, cultural, artistic and economic vibrancy of the region. Such collaborations include active community engagement and partnerships with local and regional organizations, governments, businesses and universities. In addition to the incubator, the division oversees the university’s StartUp New York economic development program. The division is led by Vice President Kevin Kearns.
