NEWS

In order to put the focus on our amazing people in the Energize New Mexico project, we are continuing our NM EPSCoR Spotlight series! We feature one participant and one student in the project and learn a little more about where they come from, and what they do for Energize New Mexico. This month, we have Amy Slater.

Where are you from, and what does it look like?

I grew up in Middle Tennessee spending my free time as a kid camping along rivers or going to live music in Nashville. While I haven’t lived in the South in over 10 years, there are certain favorites I will never give up on – such as tooth rot sweet tea and sticky Memphis BBQ. After college in Memphis I slowly made my way West after living in St. Louis, Denton, and Tulsa. I landed in Santa Fe and chose to stay in New Mexico so that I could get to know my grandmother who retired in Albuquerque in the ’70s after a long career in the US Air Force.

Amy Slater of Creative Startups

What is your role, or how are you affiliated with NM EPSCoR?

I am the Operations Director at Creative Startups. We aim to help creative entrepreneurs scale their business and positively impact the economy. NM EPSCoR is one of our main funders, supporting our activities in economic development and workforce training programs that teach entrepreneurs how to think big and create jobs.

How did you become part of the team?

I was at Anderson School of Management when I saw an internship posting to work with Creative Startups. While I already had two jobs and was a full-time MBA student, I was so intrigued by Creative Startups and the founders that I decided to apply so I could learn more. Turns out, my background in technical theater and gallery management combined with business training from UNM was a great combination for our organization. In 2015, I worked part-time and took a crash course in the accelerator/economic development sector of our growing economy. Once I graduated in December 2015, Creative Startups hired me full-time to take on the logistics and operations role so that we can scale our own small enterprise.

What has been your most memorable moment with NM EPSCoR via Creative Startups to date?

When I started at Creative Startups, I was told that our Accelerator attracts a wonderful, diverse group of entrepreneurs. It wasn’t until our applications started coming in that I fully understood what that really meant. Applications arrived from entrepreneurs all over the world sharing that they did not feel they fit in at the traditionally white male accelerators, but ours was welcoming and inviting to all genders and backgrounds. It was wonderful to read all the passionate applications and know that our work would greatly impact serious entrepreneurs that are often overlooked.

What would you like people to know about Creative Startups?

My shameless plug is that our applications for our 2016 Accelerator open on May 23rd and close July 1st. If any startup is looking for resources and mentors in a welcoming and supportive environment, I encourage them to apply. Here is a link for more information: www.creativestartups.org. I’d also be more than happy to answer any questions or jump on a call with anyone that wants to learn more: amy@creativestartups.org.

Beyond encouraging startups to apply for our six-week virtual accelerator, I want people to know that Creative Startups is working to make an impact in the creative economy. This is the fastest growing sector, and the US is far behind Europe in supporting the creatives who are building companies. Our work has helped startups not just market their products, but we have taught them how to scale and create employment in their cities.