The Dallas Entrepreneur Center has named North Texas startup evangelist Nancy Hong as the new director of the Addison TreeHouse.

The hire comes just a month after The DEC named Alyce Alston as its new CEO, replacing co-founder Trey Bowles, who is staying on as executive chairman. 

“I’m thrilled to work with the DEC, an organization that has done so much for the entrepreneurial ecosystem of DFW as well as the opportunity to work with the city of Addison that has always been innovative in recognizing the critical role that entrepreneurs play in the economic development of their city,” Hong told Dallas Innovates.

Hong joins the AddisonTreeHouse with more than 10 years of experience in the North Texas entrepreneurial ecosystem with a focus on higher education including key roles at University of Texas at Dallas’ Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship; co-founder and executive director of University of North Texas’ Innovation Greenhouse; and the director of student programs for Texas Woman’s University’s Center for Women in Business.

“I felt it was time to move beyond academia and find a position where I could use my knowledge and contacts to expand my impact to all entrepreneurs.”

Nancy Hong

“During that time, I have built an extensive network in that community,” Hong said. “I felt it was time to move beyond academia and find a position where I could use my knowledge and contacts to expand my impact to all entrepreneurs.”

The Addison TreeHouse opened almost four years ago as a partnership between the DEC and the town of Addison in order to help entrepreneurs start, build, and grow their business via education, mentorship, community, and advocacy including training, programming, events, and access to capital. The nonprofit is located in a more than 15,000 square foot facility that includes coworking space and conference and meeting spaces as well as the town of Addison’s economic development staff.

The TreeHouse partnership was originally developed by Orlando Campos, director of economic development and tourism for the town of Addison and Bowles, co-founder and executive chairman of the DEC. It is one of seven DEC locations in North Texas.

“Nancy is well-known in the North Texas startup community, and we look forward to collaborating and to supporting her efforts to strengthen the value of the TreeHouse,“ said Campos in a statement.

READ NEXT

The DEC to Welcome Entrepreneurial ‘Rock Star’ Alyce Alston as CEO