Eric Zeece

Eric Zeece has been appointed executive director of the new Central Oregon Innovation Hub, located at Oregon State University-Cascades. He will start Nov. 11.

The Central Oregon Innovation Hub is one of nine newly-created regional organizations, funded by Business Oregon and the Oregon Innovation Council. The hubs will support entrepreneurs and help advance economic development in the region.

Zeece will collaborate with a committee of regional economic and entrepreneurial stakeholders to develop and provide services that will help innovation-based companies in Central Oregon grow, create jobs and bring in funding, according to the university.

He previously served as the executive director of Thyreos Inc., a startup biotech vaccine company. He also led a consulting agency that worked with the Nebraska Department of Economic Development and designed equity programs. He received an MBA from the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs.

Partners with the Central Oregon Innovation Hub include Central Oregon Community College, City of Bend, Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council, Bend Chamber of Commerce and others.