Vann Wallstrom chosen to lead Indiana Tech’s Center for Creative Collaboration

Indiana Tech announced today that Crystal Vann Wallstrom has been chosen as the new director of the Center for Creative Collaboration (C3). Mark Richter, who has been the C3’s director since its inception, is retiring in August.

The C3 helps entrepreneurs, inventors and innovators create successful companies. It links clients together with the right team of experts for each project, including expert mentors from around the community and experienced faculty from our schools of business, engineering and law.

Vann Wallstrom’s priorities include establishing and maintaining relationships with regional entrepreneurial, economic development, and education partners; providing advice and support to entrepreneurs and students; managing client projects; organizing community events; fundraising; and managing the day-to-day operations of the department.

“The work of the Center for Creative Collaboration gives students real-life applications to their education, not just theory,” Vann Wallstrom said. “At the same time, we want to play a significant role in economic development within our region by helping launch and sustain small businesses.”

Vann Wallstrom is a recent transplant to Fort Wayne, having relocated from San Francisco, CA in June 2015. She is an entrepreneur in her own right. Vann Wallstrom is founder of Rabbit Hole Ventures, an economic development consulting company. During her 15 years in San Francisco, she worked at creative agencies and nonprofit organizations. Her previous clients include Banana Republic, Accenture, FedEx, Charles Schwab, Dell Computers, Skyy Vodka, and locally, the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership. She holds a master’s degree in nonprofit management from the University of San Francisco.

“I’m originally from Oklahoma so being a Midwesterner is part of my roots, and after living in San Francisco, at the heart of innovation, entrepreneurship is in my soul,” Vann Wallstrom said. “I’m thrilled to be at Indiana Tech, not only because I’ll be leading the next phase in the Center for Creative Collaboration’s lifecycle, but also because this campus is the most culturally diverse place in Fort Wayne that I’ve found. Indiana Tech is a true treasure.”

“Crystal brings an energy and vision to the director’s position that will help us advance and solidify the presence of the Center for Creative Collaboration in our region,” said Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. John Shannon, whose office will oversee the C3.