Economic Development Through Entrepreneurship
FRESNO, CA – The Central Valley Business Incubator has hired Travis Sheridan as its member services director and Anna Borgeas as its chief operating officer. The two new additions round out a staff that operates out of both CVBI’s mixed-use Launching Pad facility and the Claude Laval Water and Energy Technology (WET) Incubator.
Travis Sheridan, Member Services Director
Sheridan will coach and consult CVBI members as well as lead Entrepreneurial Training Process (ETP) classes. Sheridan replaces Jarah Euston, who is beginning work this fall on her MBA at the Wharton Business School.
From Madera, Sheridan recently served as the public relations director at ASTONE, where he managed staff in Fresno, San Diego and Sacramento. Previously, he was the campus director at San Joaquin Valley College’s Fresno campus. He has also worked as an adjunct instructor in the business department for State Center Community College District and has a background in the banking and human resource areas.
Currently on the Board of Directors of Creative Fresno, Sheridan earned his bachelor's in psychology from Fresno Pacific, his master's in organizational behavior from Alliant University and has completed coursework for his doctorate in organizational leadership from the University of La Verne.
“Travis brings a background of banking, marketing and organizational management to our member services director position,” said CEO Craig Scharton. “Jarah Euston left big shoes to fill when she headed for the Wharton Business School’s MBA program, but Travis has the feet to fill them. Travis’ professional experience and community service background make him a perfect match with the ideals of CVBI.”
Anna Borgeas, Chief Operating Officer
As COO, Borgeas will help to coordinate fund development and synchronize overall organizational operations.
A Fresno native, Borgeas received her undergraduate degrees in history and economics from UC-Santa Cruz and an MBA in entrepreneurship from California State University, Fresno, where she was awarded the Craig School of Business Graduate Dean's Medal.
After graduation, Borgeas moved to Yerevan, Armenia, on a Fulbright Scholarship as a Professional Development Fellow to research economic growth opportunities in Armenia and the Caucus region. Her professional background includes working with large homegrown banks as a financial analyst and commercial banking underwriter in both San Diego and Washington, D.C.
“Anna is an exciting addition to CVBI,” said Scharton. “She has business knowledge, education and a world view that, when combined with her great organizational skills, gives us even greater capacity to fulfill our mission. We have been operating without a chief operating officer and Anna will fill a vital function for CVBI.”
About the Central Valley Business Incubator
The Central Valley Business Incubator is a public/private partnership fueled by community resources. CVBI helps start-up companies launch successfully by creating an entrepreneurial community where people learn how to balance their passion and ideas with the structure of running a successful business. It offers business development services and houses five on-site members at each of its two facilities – the Launching Pad for mixed-use incubation and the Claude Laval Water and Energy Technology (WET) Incubator.
Founded in 1996, CVBI is a nonprofit organization that fosters economic development through entrepreneurship and job creation. It has worked with more than 3,000 entrepreneurs who have obtained more than $12.7 million in capital and created 1,900 direct, verifiable new jobs for Central Californians.
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