EDCO Welcomes Wendy Morgan as Venture Catalyst Director

Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) is pleased to announce the hiring of Wendy Morgan as its new Venture Catalyst Director, a key role that leads the organization’s Start initiative and advances entrepreneurship as a driver of economic growth across the region.

In this role, Morgan will focus on building and strengthening Central Oregon’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, helping scalable startups succeed at a higher rate and contributing to long-term job creation. She will work directly with early-stage companies to prepare them for debt and equity funding, provide pitch coaching and strategic guidance, and connect founders with the professional expertise and resources needed to grow.

“Wendy brings an exceptional blend of founder experience, investment readiness expertise and a deep commitment to supporting entrepreneurs,” said EDCO CEO Jon Stark. “Her leadership will be instrumental in helping Central Oregon startups access capital, scale successfully and create quality jobs in our region.”

Morgan will also play a central role in EDCO’s signature startup programs and events, including Central Oregon PubTalks and the Bend Venture Conference. Her responsibilities include supporting company recruitment, coaching presenting founders, facilitating due diligence processes, and working closely with fund managers and partners to ensure strong outcomes for both investors and participating companies.

She offers a unique blend of innovation leadership and commercialization expertise. She has dedicated her career to helping early-stage companies gain traction through customer discovery, go-to-market strategy and investor readiness. Most recently, she served as Innovation Impact Catalyst Manager at Oregon State University’s Advantage Accelerator, where she mentored a portfolio of startups and worked to increase the number of research-based ventures entering the market. Her work strengthened connections between founders, industry partners and funding opportunities.

She is also the founder of a venture-backed immersive training company, where she secured funding through federal grants, accelerators and private investment. She has collaborated with organizations such as Cedars-Sinai and the National Science Foundation to support innovation and commercialization efforts. As a certified NSF I-Corps instructor and experienced mentor, Morgan is known for her practical approach to helping founders validate ideas and build scalable businesses. Her background spans health tech, edtech and workforce development, with a focus on impactful, market-ready solutions. Based in Central Oregon, she is deeply connected to the regional startup ecosystem and is passionate about helping entrepreneurs grow and succeed.

EDCO would like to extend its gratitude to Specialized Recruiting Group, an Express Employment Professionals company and Managing Director Karen Turner for their support in the hiring process. Their expertise in staffing and recruiting played a key role in securing the right candidate for this critical position. Express Employment Professionals & Specialized Recruiting Group provide customized staffing solutions to help overcome recruiting challenges, manage production fluctuations, handle changes in project scope, and navigate seasonal hiring needs in Central Oregon, making them an invaluable partner in our efforts.