Santa Fe Business Incubator appoints new CEO

When Dana Catron was completing her bovine genomics undergraduate research at Washington State University, she had no idea she’d end up with a career in business incubation. 

After realizing she “really hated doing lab work,” Catron said she opted into the English program where she could still pursue science through technical writing. This would be her pipeline into a role as a graduate assistant at New Mexico State University’s Arrowhead Center. 

“I have a really untraditional education path that I took, but it’s worked out really, really well,” Catron said. “I had no business background until I started working at Arrowhead, but now I have a solid 16 years of (experience).”

Catron will assume the role of president and CEO of the Santa Fe Business Incubator on Feb. 2. She is taking over the top role from Marie Longserre, who has been president and CEO since the incubator’s opening in 1997.

Longserre said she will continue to be involved with the Santa Fe Business Incubator as a member of the board of directors, and as a volunteer on the advisory council.

Longserre said the Santa Fe Business Incubator has tripled in size since starting in a 10,000-square-foot building nearly three decades ago, adding that it has helped launch more than 200 companies, created 2,150 jobs and had a $450 million direct impact on the local community.

New Mexico companies like Positive Energy Solar Inc. and Santa Fe Spirits are among the many startups that have graduated from the Santa Fe Business Incubator and have since gone on to build established businesses. 

Catron — who spent 16 years at the Arrowhead Center in various roles like program director, deputy director, and, most recently, interim director and CEO — said she’s already plugged into New Mexico’s startup ecosystem. That experience has allowed her to “hit the ground running” as she aims to bring in more federal and state funding to build out future programming in the Santa Fe Business Incubator.

One of Catron’s favorite parts of a career in business incubation is “definitely working with the clients.”

“They’re all so unique, they’re so passionate about what they’re doing — I love being able to help them and assist them and watch them grow,” Catron said. “I never would have thought how fulfilling it would be to see your clients get those wins.”

Catron said business incubators are like a “chicken incubator,” hosting companies until they’re ready to “fly the coop.” One of the most unique aspects of Santa Fe’s program is its access to wet labs, infrastructure hard to come by in New Mexico. 

She and Longserre have been working together since Catron moved to Santa Fe, she said, and have built relationships with staff and clients in the business incubator. Though Longserre is leaving “big shoes to fill,” Catron said she’s looking forward to stepping into the role. 

“Dana knows business incubation… She really has a passion for entrepreneurship, and she understands the journey,” Longserre said. “She’s already been a close and valued partner to this incubator, so I think it’s in incredibly good and capable hands. That makes me really happy.”

Hannah García covers tech and energy for the Journal. You can reach her at hgarcia@abqjournal.com.