Kregel quits technology incubator

Fall is the archetypal time of change, so it is apropos that the Fort Collins Technology Incubator undergo its biggest change since bricks and mortar now.

Kathy Kregel, who has shepherded the incubator from its infancy as a virtual organization through the burst of the tech bubble and into a physical location that houses two companies, has left the building. The end of September marked her last day as executive director of the Fort Collins Technology Incubator.

“I’m at eight and a half years on this job,´ said Kregel, who has become synonymous with the business of technology in Northern Colorado. “I thought it was time to move on.”

Kregel is actually already more than a year off from her “schedule.” In her past four jobs, she’s stayed seven years. Before taking the helm at the incubator, Kregel was the executive director of the Loveland Center for Business Development.

The decision to leave the incubator wasn’t an easy one, Kregel said. She began pondering an exit about six months ago. When the incubator’s board began discussing an update to the strategic plan, she felt there would be no better opportunity to make the transition.

“It’s hard to step off the train when it’s moving,” she said.

The goal is to keep the momentum going while the search for a new director commences. In that spirit, technology consultant Doug Johnson will step in as an interim director.

“The momentum that Kathy has created I’d like to see continue,” Johnson said. “I don’t view (the position) as a curator or a caretaker.”

Johnson said he’s committed to hold the interim position for six months if it takes the incubator’s board that long to find a replacement.

Hunt Lambert, a member of the incubator’s board and the senior vice president for Colorado State University’s Office of Economic Development, contacted Johnson about filling the position temporarily.

“I figured that I could make a contribution and help the community a little bit,” Johnson said.

Two transitions

Johnson sees his role as multifaceted. He will oversee continuation of community events – such as the Technology Roundtable, CEO forums and the Northern Colorado Rockies Venture Club meetings – continue to serve the incubator companies and spend time with the board to bring new initiatives to fruition.

“The interesting thing is that we have two transitions in front of us,” Johnson said.

While looking for a permanent director for the incubator, the board will also be updating its strategic plan. Johnson expects to be involved with both of these tasks to some extent.

Johnson said that he doesn’t expect to apply for the permanent executive director position. Despite the fact that he continues to consult with companies, he considers himself in his second childhood – also known as retirement. However, he added that he wouldn’t completely dismiss the possibility.

“We’ll have to see what the next six months will bring,” he said. “At this moment, I view this as being over this winter.”

Johnson brings with him an in-depth knowledge of the challenges faced by technology companies. He spent 30 years of his career at high-tech companies, including Hewlett-Packard Co., Agilent Technologies, CoCreate Software and Motorola Semiconductor. He is a co-founder of NoCoNet – a networking forum for unemployed professionals. In 2002, he founded ubiLink LLC, a consulting company that works with companies in all stages of maturity. About two-thirds of the companies he’s consulted with have been in the technology industry.

“I think that working with startup companies is fascinating,” he said. “I look forward to getting to know (the incubator) companies better than I already have.”

Kregel to be missed

The connection with the companies, community and the individuals is what Kregel said she will miss the most.

And she will be missed – that’s the echoing sentiment from many of those she worked with.

“Our entire community owes Kathy a huge thanks,´ said Lambert. “She’s worked diligently and selflessly for not much money for the past eight years.”

He added that she has helped form the Northern Colorado technology industry into more than most thought it could be.

For Dan Stinchcomb, Kregel’s contributions have had a more personal effect. Stinchcomb is the co-founder of InViragen LLC, the first biotechnology company to join the incubator.

“Kathy Kregel’s done a great job of galvanizing the biotechnology community in the region,” he said.

In the past two years, the region has gained a presence with the Colorado Bioscience Association, formed the Larimer County Bioscience Initiative Strategic Plan and began holding Bioscience Larimer County meetings. One of the common threads in all of the bioscience programs has been Kregel.

“I definitely think our development would be slower (without the incubator),” Stinchcomb said. “We’ll miss her.”

He added that he firmly believes Kregel will get involved with the community again. But Kregel won’t be jumping into the next role right away. She plans to take a three-month sabbatical to think about what she wants to do next.

“I tend to make pretty broad changes in direction,” she said.

She hinted that she might take on a broader role in the region’s burgeoning bioscience industry.

“I just don’t think I’m done in that area,” she said.

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