The Enterprise Center announced that Debra Socia has been selected to replace Ken Hays as CEO and president, effective July 2019. Ms. Socia currently serves as the president of DC-based Next Century Cities, which advocates for communities who seek to ensure that all have access to fast, affordable, and reliable broadband.
Ms.
Socia was selected from a pool of candidates by a search committee, with representatives from the Enterprise Center’s board, the city of Chattanooga, Hamilton County, and UTC.
One of The Enterprise Center’s digital equity programs, Tech Goes Home Chattanooga, is modeled after Boston’s program Tech Goes Home, which Ms. Socia established in 2010. As the founding executive director, she led Tech Goes Home to serve more than 13,000 Boston residents, and she co-created a national version of the program with Intel.
Prior to her current role at Next Century Cities, Ms. Socia spent 32 years as an educator and administrator. She was the founding principal of the award winning Lilla G. Frederick Middle School, a Boston Public School where she led the one-to-one laptop initiative.
She will step into her new role on July 15.