Roane State names new director at Cumberland County campus

Hanson.
Hanson.
Hanson.

CROSSVILLE – Roane State Community College has named a new director at its Cumberland County campus in Crossville.

Holly Hanson, who has led the college’s Cumberland Business Incubator (CBI) since 2013, will direct activities while also continuing to head the CBI. She will succeed Dr. Janice Poole, who plans to retire in January.

“I look forward to an expanded role in meeting Roane State’s mission to improve the lives of individuals through the transformative power of education and to build thriving communities through partnerships for strengthening economic development,” Hanson said.

Hanson has served as executive director of the EDGE Business Center in Rockford, Ill, director of economic and business outreach for Rock Valley College in Illinois, and as interim director of Rock Valley College’s Small Business Development Center. She also has managed several federal and state grants.

Roane State's Cumberland County campus is located at 2567 Cook Road, Crossville.
Roane State’s Cumberland County campus is located at 2567 Cook Road, Crossville.

Hanson is a certified business coach through the Professional Business Coaches Alliance and worked as an executive in the aerospace and machine tool industries. She has managed budgets as large as $75 million and was responsible for as many as 75 direct reports. Hanson is a serial entrepreneur herself, having started seven successful small businesses.

Hanson has served on nearly a dozen nonprofit boards and received recognition for her community service. She has taught undergraduate and graduate business courses for University of Phoenix.

Under Hanson’s leadership, the CBI staff and volunteers have organized hundreds of training programs and established a Maker Space and annual youth Make Camp. Hanson has provided coaching to more than 220 entrepreneurs in the Upper Cumberland region resulting in 250-plus jobs being created.

Hanson received her bachelor’s degree in accounting and mathematics from Rockford University in 1981 and earned a master’s degree in management from Cardinal Stritch University in 1994.

Roane State’s Cumberland County campus is located at 2567 Cook Road in Crossville. For more information, call (931) 456-9880 or visit roanestate.edu/cumberland.

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