The Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SIE) Lab, part of the Jordan Institute for families, is excited to announce two new members of the innovation team!
The SIE Lab will soon be welcoming its first Entrepreneur-In-Residence, Veronica Creech. Veronica, a Tar Heel alum, is the Chief Programs Officer at EveryoneOn, a national nonprofit that creates social and economic opportunity by connecting everyone to the internet. Veronica has spent more than 15 years leading public and nonprofit social enterprise initiatives. A serial entrepreneur, her innovative spirit can be traced back to her early high school years.
As the Entrepreneur-In-Residence, Veronica will mentor other budding entrepreneurs through the SIE Lab. Her role will include developing a mentor network of innovators and entrepreneurs, supporting the emerging innovation space in the School of Social Work, on campus and in local communities. She will participate in symposiums, panel presentations, and classroom lectures bringing innovation concepts to life with her experience and skill expertise.
Nora Spencer, a recent graduate of the UNC School of Social Work, will also be returning to the school in her new role as a startup founder. Nora will be working closely with the SIE Lab as she launches her social venture, Hope Renovations.
As a student, Nora helped pilot the social innovation consulting services offered by the SIE Lab. She is now starting up a social enterprise focused on providing workforce training for women. Hope Renovations will offer women the opportunity to learn construction skills while renovating houses for the aging. Nora will continue her startup work at the SIE Lab, benefiting from the entrepreneurship resources offered through the School of Social Work and across the UNC campus. Her social enterprise will serve as a model for current students and faculty who are interested in pursuing entrepreneurial ventures with a social impact.