Framingham State Names New Director Of Entrepreneur Innovation Center

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Christimara Garcia is set to take over as director of the Framingham State University Entrepreneur Innovation Center (EIC) in January, where she will work directly with local entrepreneurs and FSU business faculty and students, FSU officials announced.

Garcia is a business executive with more than 20 years of experience, including 15 years dedicated to Innovation Management. Most recently, she was the founder of the Catalyze Innovations Initiative, where she spearheaded the launch of several Innovation Bootcamp programs, including a BIPOC entrepreneurship program, training and mentoring more than 100 entrepreneurs in applying disruptive innovation to achieve business prosperity, social-economic growth and inclusion.

“We are thrilled to have Christy take over as Director of the FSU Innovation Center,” says Dr. Patricia Thomas, Dean of the College of Business. “She brings a wealth of knowledge and research on business innovation to share with our entrepreneurs and the many business interns who work alongside them.”

Gracia is the founder of ABGI Brasil, one of South America's most recognized innovation consulting firms. From 2007 to 2018, she supported the growth and expansion of more than 200 companies in Brazil and around the world, providing services such as innovation and ESG projects fundraising, legal structuring, business set-up, project management, and innovation labs structuring, officials said.

She earned her MBA from Fundacao Getulio Vargas in Brazil and has a graduate certificate from Babson College.

The FSU Entrepreneur Innovation Center was launched in 2013 to serve local entrepreneurs and FSU business students.