PortTech Los Angeles Executive Director Jeff Milanette is
leaving the organization to launch an innovation center in Africa. His resignation
is effective Feb. 15.
“As a business incubation professional, the opportunity to
build PortTechLA, coach innovative entrepreneurs and work with a highly
talented management team has been incredibly rewarding,” Milanette said in a
prepared statement announcing the move. “I thank PortTechLA’s Board of
Directors and the Port of Los Angeles for the opportunity to lead the
development of this program. However, start-ups are my area of expertise and I
leave PortTechLA well positioned for a new Executive Director to step in and
lead the organization into its next phase of growth.”
PortTechLA, located adjacent to the Port of Los Angeles, is
a commercialization center and incubation program, promotes and develops
companies with technologies that enable enterprises and consumers to meet their
immediate and future environmental, energy, security and logistics goals. It’s
a cooperative effort of the Port of LA, City of Los Angeles and the business
communities of San Pedro and Wilmington.
Milanette was named executive director of the organization
by Port of LA Executive Director Geraldine Knatz in October 2009. Since then, PortTechLA
has grown from a fledgling non-profit with one client to an organization
capable of supporting more than 20 clean technology companies with a
combination of onsite and virtual services.
Shortly after taking charge, Milanette established the
PortTechForum, a monthly program specially designed for entrepreneurs and
members of the clean technology business community to come together to exchange
ideas, business tips, marketing advice and benefit from networking
opportunities.
Milanette also launched the annual PortTechEXPO, a venture
conference and technology exposition designed to introduce the business
community to the products and services being developed by PortTechLA clients
and other technology entrepreneurs.
“Jeff has built a great foundation upon which PortTechLA is
well positioned to become a leading technology center focused on the maritime
industry. We wish him well in his new ventures," PortTechLA Board Chair
Herb Zimmer said.
Entrepreneur and investor Stan Tomsic has been named the
organization’s interim Executive Director. The search for a permanent Executive
Director is being initiated by PortTechLA’s Board of Directors.
