Mary Kim
Bridge Innovate announced on Wednesday Mary Kim as director of Bright Spark, the organization’s social impact initiative for students and educators, effective as of Monday, June 26. In addition to leading Bright Spark, Ms. Kim will also oversee Innovation for Good, a new corporate responsibility program, as well as provide design advisory for Bridge Innovate clients.
“We are thrilled to have Mary join the Bridge Innovate team," said Jenny Whitener, Bridge Innovate CEO and founder of Bright Spark. "She brings a depth of knowledge in design and education innovation and has an impressive track record in partnership development through her work with renowned organizations in the U.S. and abroad. Mary’s passion for community involvement and entrepreneurship is a perfect fit for this role. She will no doubt be an incredible asset both to Bridge Innovate and the city of Chattanooga.”
Most recently, Ms. Kim served as the associate director of the Collaborative Learning Center at the Savannah College of Art and Design, which partners with a wide variety of businesses, brands and organizations to research and solve challenging problems by drawing on the talents of top students from SCAD’s more than 50 design disciplines. From developing interactive environments to re-energizing package designs, the CLC cultivates active engagements among distinguished industry professionals, students and faculty through authentic, real-world collaborations. In her role, Ms. Kim led partnership development for CLC, generating new business opportunities and cultivating relationships that resulted in 50+ new partnerships with companies, such as BMW, The Home Depot, L'Oreal, Philips and Reebok and more than $1 million in revenue. She also developed and implemented new initiatives, including the executive education program and SCAD sponsored projects in Hong Kong and France.
"I'm excited to be a member of the Bridge Innovate team and the Chattanooga community,” said Ms. Kim. “I was drawn to Chattanooga's vibrant entrepreneurial spirit and strong community support for education. Jenny's vision for Bridge Innovate and Bright Spark aligns with what I hope to achieve with my next role. I look forward to cultivating meaningful collaborations between educational organizations and business partners."
Ms. Kim has a Master of Arts in Luxury and Fashion Management from SCAD and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art from the University of Texas at Austin. Recently relocated from Savannah, Ms. Kim now resides in Chattanooga with her family.