Evansville Regional Economic Partnership Hires Small Business Development Director

The Evansville Regional Economic Partnership (E-REP), a unified organization advancing the interests of businesses while fueling economic and community growth, is pleased to welcome Dominic Poggi as the Indiana Small Business Development Center Regional Director.

Serving on the E-REP leadership team, Poggi will provide strategic oversite to create measurable impact on the formation, growth, and sustainability of small businesses, and help entrepreneurs start stronger, grow faster, and work smarter.

“I’m excited to be joining a team dedicated to growing the Evansville Region, said Poggi.  Everywhere I look there are people wanting to help one another, and I can’t wait to start helping make the connections that result in an immediate impact or plant seeds for the long term.”

Prior to joining E-REP, Poggi spent 10 years in sales, including startups like Groupon, PreScouter and Label Insight. Most recently, he worked for the American Red Cross as a Disaster Program Manager where he oversaw disaster preparedness, response and recovery across 38 counties including Southwest Indiana.

As part of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, the Regional Director plays an important role in developing a culture of entrepreneurship and assistance to aspiring entrepreneurs as well as existing businesses.

Playing an integral role in our entrepreneurial ecosystem, the Regional Director is tasked with developing a rich environment for growth, creativity and innovation and aids aspiring entrepreneurs as well as existing businesses.

“We are thrilled to have Dom join the talented team at E-REP, and I know his background in fast-paced entrepreneurial business and the nonprofit world will strengthen the Evansville region’s innovation resources, create new opportunities for companies to scale, and accelerate our journey to advance regional prosperity and global relevance,” said Tara Barney, E-REP co-CEO.

E-REP serves as the regional host for the Southwest Indiana Small Business Development Center (SBDC), representing eight counties in Southwest Indiana which connects Hoosier small businesses with the expert guidance and a comprehensive network of resources they need to start and grow. Last year, amid a pandemic the Southwest Indiana Small Business Development Center advisors outperformed the rest of the state in number of clients served (499), number of new business starts (35) and total capital infusion ($18.8 million).

“Businesses don’t live in a vacuum, and they thrive in supportive communities – communities that understand they’re part of an even larger national and global fabric,” said Poggi.

Originally from the Chicago suburbs, Poggi relocated to Southwest Indiana in 2018. Poggi lives in the Evansville region with his wife and twin boys. With a B.S. in Marketing from Northern Illinois University, Poggi described his new role as the ultimate opportunity to draw on all of the skills gained over the years to help build the community which he now calls home.