Better Business Bureau (BBB) has a century-long reputation of building trust in the marketplace and now is looking to help build better businesses from the ground up through entrepreneur programs. To lead its new effort, BBB Serving Central, Northern and Western Arizona welcomes Kimberly Roland as Director of Entrepreneur Programs.
Roland joins the organization as the Director of Entrepreneur Programs. The new director will drive innovation at BBB and the greater community through the creation of entrepreneurial programming and spaces where both accredited businesses and startups can co-work, collaborate.
“Small businesses are the backbone of the Arizona and American economies, so creating a space where they can incubate, learn, collaborate, and work will certainly advance our mission,” said BBB President/CEO Matthew Fehling. “Entrepreneurial programming focused on ethics is an innovative addition to the long list of services we already provide accredited businesses and community members.”
Prior to joining BBB in July 2017, Roland served as the Manager of Partner Relations in Entrepreneurship + Innovation at Arizona State University where she managed programs and external partnerships in the greater business and startup community. She has also worked for St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance and Feeding America and has extensive experience in nonprofit programming and innovation.
Background areas include: program development, research, human centered design, social media management, evaluation, grant writing, event management, cultivating strategic partnerships, program and process innovation, and evaluation.
“I am excited to use my experience and background in innovation and program development to help BBB serve Arizona’s startup community,” said Roland. “There are so many valuable resources offered by local organizations that collaboration will be key to our success. My hope is that the new program’s collaborative effort will truly impact and help entrepreneurs.”
Roland is a Phoenix native. She is incredibly passionate about food, traveling, and issues of social justice.
To learn more about BBB Serving Central, Northern and Western Arizona and its efforts to help small businesses, visit www.arizonabbb.org.
