What were you doing 25 years ago?  Our guess is probably not what you are doing now.  There might even be some people reading this post that weren’t even born yet.

The year was 1983 and the Akron-Summit Industrial Incubator, now known as the Akron Global Business Accelerator (AGBA), was created.  Created to be a safe haven for entrepreneurs, it was the first of it’s kind in Ohio and one of only a handful in the entire country.

Mike LeHere was employee #1, hired to manage the incubator.  It is a position he holds to this day.

After 25 years of pioneering work helping countless entrepreneurs, Mike and the AGBA is receiving some extremely notable recognition for their high quality program. 

First, the incubator has been highlighted in a number of articles over the past few months concerning it’s expanding global reach, it’s participation in the emerging Akron bio corridor, and it’s contribution to the Akron economy. 

More recently, Mike, the accelerator, and one of it’s tenants were finalists for two awards at the recent National Business Incubation Association (NBIA) Spring Conference:

• ABGA was one of two finalists for the Incubator Innovation Award, for their Global Technology Commercialization Initiative in conjunction with the City of Akron.
• Summit Data Communications, a tenant in the AGBA, was one of two finalists in the NBIA  Incubator Client, Technology category.  SDC produces digital radios for use in harsh environments, such as inventory control, warehouses. SDC grew from $1.5M in 2006 to $7M sales in 2007.

We are pleased to report that Mike’s ABGA took the award for the top Incubator Innovation for 2008.   This is quite an honor for Mike and the AGBA.  NBIA is a highly respected organization representing incubators from all over the world.  With this nomination, Mike was competing against other high-quality incubation programs in 45+ states and over 50 countries. 

We realize this isn’t exactly breaking news as several blogs and media outlets throughout the region have already reported on this.  We are pleased to see our region exhibit the same amount of enthusiasm and pride over this award as we are within NEOinc (AGBA is a member of NEOinc, the Northeast Ohio Incubator Collaborative).  For a very nice writeup about Mike and the ABGA, read this Akron Beacon Journal article.

We at NEOinc wanted to share some personal congratulatory messages to Mike on his recognition:

“Mike’s long-term dedication to entrepreneurship has made the accelerator a significant component in the economic development effort of Akron, Northeast Ohio, and now the nation.”

Bob Cohen
CEO, Director of Business Assistance
BrainTree Partners

 ”Our most sincere congratulations go out to our colleagues at the Akron Global Business Accelerator on being awarded the 2008 Incubator Innovation Award by the National Business Incubator Association. A well deserved honor for a highly respected program. And we send a particularly special “shout out” to Mike LeHere, its Executive Director. Mike has been a leading force in business incubation throughout his storied and successful career. His very early stage consulting work in Youngstown was the launching point for the Youngstown Business Incubator and the basis for the success and recognition we enjoy today.”

Jim Cossler
Chief Evangelist
The Youngstown Business Incubator

“Congratulations Mike!  Pioneers and innovators go through many hard and troubling times.  You not only survived, but prospered.  Many thanks for leading the way in Northeast Ohio.”

Don Knechtges
Senior Advisor
GLIDE

“Mike Lehere was my mentor, when I started my first business endeavor 25 years ago in the original industrial incubator.  No one is more deserving of this prestigious award than Mike.”

Terry Martell
Director, Operations & Business Development
The Akron Global Business Accelerator

“This is a long-overdue recognition of the outstanding work Mike and his staff have been doing at the AGBA for the last 25 years.  Not only is Mike’s program achieving notoriety, but this award also recognizes Mike’s personal strong position influence on, and dedication to, entrepreneurial support locally, regionally, state-wide, nationally, and now even internationally.  Congratulations and keep up the great work!”

Wayne Zeman, Chair of NEOinc
VP of Venture Development
MAGNET