Incubator Task Force Formed
The Enterprise Center of Johnson County is the result of the vision, commitment and collaboration of greater Kansas City’s most respected civic and business leaders. In January 1989, Johnson County Community College President, Charles Carlsen, convened a Business Incubator Task Force (the Task Force) to study the feasibility and impact of developing a Business Incubator in Johnson County. President Carlsen invited a wide range of leadership to participate in the Task Force, including representatives from entrepreneurial ventures, state, county and local government organizations, economic development, banking and venture capital, law firms and the business community.
The Enterprise Center of Johnson County is the result of the vision, commitment and collaboration of greater Kansas City’s most respected civic and business leaders. In January 1989, Johnson County Community College President, Charles Carlsen, convened a Business Incubator Task Force (the Task Force) to study the feasibility and impact of developing a Business Incubator in Johnson County. President Carlsen invited a wide range of leadership to participate in the Task Force, including representatives from entrepreneurial ventures, state, county and local government organizations, economic development, banking and venture capital, law firms and the business community.
Business Incubator Task Force Members
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Ben Craig (Chairman)
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Jake Bayer
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Rich Bendis
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Mary Birch
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Mike Brown
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William Brundage
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Kevin Carr
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E.H. Denton
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Greg Foss
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Dian Hajicek
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Dr. John Hancock
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John Houlihan
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Steve Jack
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Phil Kline
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Roger Kroh
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Jack LeClaire
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Johanna Lingle
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Bob Lytle
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Larry McAulay
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John McDonald
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Dennis McKee
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Ron Mittag
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Harland Priddle
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Richard Russell
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Jeff Seybert
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Sue Weltner
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Hugh Zimmer
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The Task Force was charged with addressing three key questions:
- Is Johnson County an appropriate location for a business incubator?
- Would a business incubator be an effective tool in Johnson County’s comprehensive economic development program?
- Would a business incubator provide an adequate economic return on the public investment necessary to support such an operation?
The Task Force concluded that a properly funded, well-managed, technology-oriented business incubator can have a positive impact on economic development in Johnson County.
A cost/benefit analysis, commissioned by the Task Force and performed by CERI Inc., concluded a successful incubator would require sustained public support. The analysis projected that, during its first 10 years of operation, the incubator would graduate 35 firms, create nearly 900 jobs, and produce a realized return on County investment of 18%.
Based on this analysis and other considerations, the Task Force requested that the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners approve funding in the amount of $359,600 for FY1995 to launch an incubator, with the understanding that continued County support would be required for a period of time.
1994
JoCo Business TechCenter (JCBTC) lanched in Southlake Business Park
The incubator was incorporated and registered in Kansas as a non-profit corporation under the name “JoCo Business TechCenter” (“JCBTC”) in December 1994. Fifteen Directors were elected to serve on the initial JCBTC Board. JCBTC officially opened operations in January, 1995 at the Southlake Business Park under the management of Tech Industry Consultants led by Ivan Smith.
1996
JCTBC moved to 9875 Widmer Road
In March of 1996, the JCTBC relocated to a facility near 95th and Lackman that had been vacated by the rapidly growing global GPS firm, Garmin International, Inc.
1998
Kessinger Consulting Associates hired to manage JCBTC
In July, 1998, Kessinger Consulting Associates (KCA) was appointed to manage JCBTC. KCA managed ECJC until May, 2005, during which time ECJC achieved significant growth and success.
1999
JCTBC renamed Enterprise Center of Johnson County (ECJC)
In February, 1999, JCBTC’s name was changed to the Enterprise Center of Johnson County, Inc. (ECJC). ECJC also assumed management of Prairie Investment for Technology Advancement, LLC (PITA), one of eight for-profit seed capital companies in Kansas funded by the Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation (KTEC). The fund provided limited early-stage, equity risk capital to technology-based ventures with the potential for high growth and significant returns on investment. The funds were not limited to companies based in Johnson County. All funds were expended by 2003 and the Fund management was returned to KTEC in July, 2007.
2000
Bi-State Investment Group formed
Recognizing that access to capital was a critical element of success for the ECJC and its clients, the Bi-State Investment Group, LLC (BIG) was established in April, 2000. Under the leadership of Kessinger Consulting Associates and with the assistance of the Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, BIG was launched with 58 units sold ($2.9M total fund) and more than 70 members. KCA administered BIG, which held many of its committee meetings at the ECJC, providing the incubator and its clients with visibility within the entrepreneurial and angel communities.
Kansas Women's Business Center (KWBC) formed
ECJC began operating the Kansas Women’s Business Center (KWBC) in July, 2000. In early 2000, U.S. Representative Dennis Moore asked the ECJC to submit a proposal to the US Small Business Administration for a Women’s Business Center (WBC). At the time, Kansas was one of only three states that did not have a WBC. The WBC mission offered a different but complimentary component of the ECJC mission. The ECJC's clientele of high-growth companies were largely led by men. The KWBC’s mission to focus on women complements the ECJC’s high-tech, high-growth services and centralizes a comprehensive range of services to women entrepreneurs within Johnson County. A primary caveat of pursuing the opportunity was that the ECJC remain focused on its primary mission. An ECJC board member, Sandy Licata, agreed to assist in the proposal process and to become the first Executive Director. The ECJC’s proposal was one of eight accepted by the SBA, out of a nationwide respondent pool of eighty-one proposals. In June, 2004, Sherry Turner replaced Sandy as Executive Director of the KWBC.
2002
ECJC moved to 8527 Bluejacket Street, Lenexa, Kansas
In November, 2002, ECJC moved to its current location at 8527 Bluejacket Street, Lenexa. After nearly 7 years at its previous location, the ECJC considered options available upon the expiration of its lease at 9875 Widmer Road. Over forty locations were considered, with four, including the Widmer site, selected as finalists. After careful consideration and negotiations, the 22,000 square feet facility at 8527 Bluejacket was selected and a 5 year lease was executed. The new location and space provides the ECJC and its clients with a better location, better visibility in the business community, and an updated environment with a more economical floor plan. Numerous community organizations, individuals, and corporations contributed over $100,000 to make the move possible. ECJC’s current lease extends until December, 2009.
2005
Dr. Joel Wiggins hired as CEO of ECJC
KCA dissolved its relation with the ECJC Board in May, 2005, when its principal, Joe Kessinger, left to become the COO of Innovia Medical, one of ECJC’s promising tenants. The Board conducted a nationwide search and invited Dr. Joel Wiggins to become its new President and CEO. Dr. Wiggins had been the Executive Director of the Austin Technology Incubator at The University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Wiggins officially assumed the helm at ECJC June 20, 2005. Wiggins has been on the board of directors of the 1,700-member National Business Incubation Association since 2002 and he also served as the Board Chair.
2006
Mid-America Angels (MAA) network created
With the generous assistance of the Kauffman Foundation and the Angel Capital Association, MAA officially launched March 28, 2006. MAA is a network of accredited angel investors in the Greater Kansas City area devoted to sourcing and funding qualified business opportunities. The network is managed by ECJC and the Lawrence Regional Technology Corporation. Since its inception, MAA has made 36 investments in 24 companies totaling over $8M.
2009
First successful MAA exit - Rush Tracking Systems
In November 2009, Rush Tracking Systems - a portfolio company of the Mid-America Angels Investment group - was acquired by Pharos Capital Group (Dallas/Nashville), a private equity firm with $600 million in capital under management. Pharos Capital Group reportedly decided to add Rush Tracking Systems to their portfolio based on their confidence in the company's management team, service & product innovation, expanding client base, and growth potential for Rush Tracking Systems and the RFID industry. After the acquistion, Rush Tracking System continued to operate out of Lenexa headquarters with current staff remaining in place. Rush Tracking Systems offers tracking solutions, software, and services that leverage world-class systems integration and business process analysis to maximize the performance and business value of tracking technologies for constrained warehouse operationsIn July of 2011, Rush Tracking Systems announced a merger with Sky-Trax, Inc. (Delaware), a provider of Optical Real-Time Location Systems for tracking goods, vehicles and guiding autonomous vehicles. In October of 2011, Rush Tracking Systems acquired ShockWatch Equipment Monitoring Division and changed its name to TotalTrax, Inc.
2011
Graduate Company, Rhythm Engineering, listed as 64th fastest-growing private company on Inc. Magazine's 500│5000 List
The September issue of Inc. named ECJC graduate client company, Rhythm Engineering, the 64th fastest growing private company in the United States and 10th fastest among Government Services companies. The company had a 3-year growth rate of 3,389% with revenues growing from $224,489 in 2007 to $7.8M in 2010. Rhythm Engineering graduated from the Enterprise Center in December 2009 with 9 employees. Today it has 35 employes and is located in Lenexa, KS. Rhythm Enginneering develops and sells technology that enables traffic signals to respond to traffic demand in real time, resulting in up to 90% fewer stops and 20%-30% lower fuel consumption and emissions. Its system, InSync, is installed or contracted to be installed at more than 350 intersections nationwide. Rhythm Engineering was also recognized as the 2011 Fastest-Growing Company in Kansas City by Ingram's Magazine.
Second successful MAA exit - Zave Networks
Launched in 2006, Zave Networks didn’t simply anticipate the dramatic growth in digital transactions, we created the first program to completely transform the way non-cash value was transacted and tracked. Their initial application—Zavers—had early success in some of the largest grocery chains in the U.S. In 2011, Zavers will more than double in size and expand into more than 1,500 stores across the country. In September of 2011, Zave Networks was acquired by Google Inc. for an undisclosed amount. At the time of the sale it was Google's 12th-largest acquistion.