The Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre has a new business development manager.
Hired for the position is John Prgomet, who formerly worked with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.
Prgomet will be responsible for working with the private and public sectors to “drive business growth, facilitate research and commercialize innovation in the areas of science and technology” in the Sault and throughout Algoma, according to the innovation centre, which says the role has “been key to driving science and technology sector development in Sault Ste. Marie since 1999.”
“John’s significant experience in business and organizational strategy, business operations, regulatory affairs and compliance makes him a great fit to lead our business development activities,” said Don MacLennan, the innovation centre’s acting executive director, in a release.
“His experience, combined with his passion for Sault Ste. Marie and our information technology and science sectors, will allow the innovation centre to further develop and grow the local economy and establish innovative and new business opportunities.”
The organization has been undergoing a transformation since a third-party report commissioned by city council suggested some changes to deliver the city a better bang for its buck.
Among them was the amalgamation of the innovation centre and the Economic Development Corporation into one organization.
Last September, long-time executive director Tom Vair left the innovation centre for a job as deputy CAO for the city’s community development and enterprise services department.
In February, the innovation centre announced it would be moving its offices from the biosciences and technology centre at Algoma University to space at city hall.
