CENTENNIAL, Colo. (July 31, 2018) — Denver Tech Center-based entrepreneurial ecosystem Innovation Pavilion announced key changes to its leadership structure that took effect this past month. Kitty Kolding, a longtime partner and friend of IP, stepped in as chief executive officer to lead the company. Simultaneously, the company underwent internal changes: Jameel Barkat was appointed chief financial officer and Jennifer Bustamante was promoted to vice president of national expansion.
Having long served as CEO of several organizations, Ms. Kolding is no stranger to business leadership. With a strong background in data, sales, business development and marketing, she caught the entrepreneurial bug early on. Founding her first company three decades ago, Ms. Kolding has started and led five ventures over her career. Her portfolio includes a commercial real estate research firm, a specialty sales solutions firm, an immersive marketing company, a next-generation marketing platform and most recently, an innovative business dedicated to helping companies unlock value in data.
Ms. Kolding has been a CEO many times. In some cases, she led her own companies, while in others, she was brought in as a professional CEO by start-up founders or VCs seeking professional leadership. Her work has focused on the areas of market research, marketing tech, marketing services and data. She also held a series of executive positions at Jupiter Research, where she helped grow revenues to over $100 million. Most recently, she was CEO of Infocore, where her team of global data sourcing experts worked with Fortune 500 marketers and their agency partners in 90 countries. Over the years, Ms. Kolding has also partnered on several projects with Innovation Pavilion.
“I have always been compelled by the brilliant vision that has been at the core of IP. The idea of creating powerful innovation programs that breathe life into the development of fully equipped innovation campuses across the country is unlike any venture I’ve seen. It’s a big, bold vision, and I’m enormously proud to lead this exciting venture,” Ms. Kolding commented. Our focus on convening and activating communities in such key growth areas — like IoT, cybersecurity, enterprise blockchain, aerospace and SMART city — gives us the future-looking focus that will drive the business forward for many years.”
Mr. Barkat brings over 30 years of experience in operational and leadership roles at various aerospace corporations including Boeing and Curtiss-Wright, as well as smaller companies. After joining IP to kickstart an aerospace innovation ecosystem, Mr. Barkat initially assumed leadership of the company’s corporate and real estate development. In his new role as CFO, he brings seasoned expertise in strategic finance, business operations and corporate development.
Sharing his views, Mr. Barkat said, “It is my pleasure to take on this new challenge with Kitty. Her prior involvement with IP and execution-focused leadership experience with growing companies makes her an ideal leader for the company.”
To learn more about Kitty Kolding, visit her LinkedIn or watch her interview.
To learn more about Jameel Barkat, visit his LinkedIn or watch his interview.
About Innovation Pavilion
Innovation Pavilion (IP) is an entrepreneurial ecosystem transforming economic landscapes nationwide through innovation and real estate services. In addition to providing business services and facilitating collaboration, IP builds niche entrepreneurial communities, curates corporate and city innovation, and develops the workforce of tomorrow. Partnering with cities and developers, IP creates innovation campuses in suburban cities across the United States. For more information, visit www.innovationpavilion.com.
