LAS VEGAS & RENO, Nev.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Nevada Institute for Renewable Energy Commercialization (NIREC) today announced that Walt Borland is resigning as its President and CEO effective March 31, 2013.
Borland will maintain an ongoing relationship with NIREC as an Executive-In-Residence as he had in the past and will actively support the organization and its initiatives in this role going forward.
Borland has been involved with NIREC since 2010 in a variety of significant roles, and has served as its President and CEO and an Ex-Officio Trustee since 2011. He has been responsible for managing NIREC’s relationships with the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development, the U.S. Economic Development Administration within the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the U.S. Department of Energy, among others.
“Walt has been instrumental in developing new programs at NIREC while actively pursuing innovation-based economic development efforts for the state,” said Ian Rogoff, Chairman of NIREC’s Board of Trustees. “Although he will certainly be missed, NIREC will continue playing a role in Nevada’s economic diversification efforts through its statewide innovation, commercialization and acceleration activities.”
Borland has also been instrumental in developing NIREC’s next generation of programs since joining the organization, including Project Vesto, The Spark and Young Professionals in Energy−Nevada. Additionally, he has led NIREC into partnerships with the Cleantech Open, SciTech Hookup and Startup Weekend and provided staff support and financial assistance to other non-profit organizations throughout Nevada.
“NIREC has expanded its statewide mission well beyond renewable energy commercialization,” said Borland. “Advancing innovation and commercialization efforts within the Nevada System of Higher Education, encouraging entrepreneurial activity statewide and building a more robust private equity network in Nevada have been the leading organizational priorities during my tenure with NIREC.”
Prior to working with NIREC, Borland spent more than 30 years in the private sector where he served as the President and CEO of seven venture-backed emerging growth companies. His personal interest in helping transform Nevada’s economy initially led him into accelerating the development of a clean energy economy in the state and subsequently into advocating broader innovation and commercialization initiatives.
“It has been a tremendous pleasure to work with so many talented and passionate individuals within NIREC and throughout the state of Nevada,” said Borland. “Stepping down as the full-time President and CEO of NIREC will again allow me to invest my time and energy into a broader portfolio of charitable and entrepreneurial activities.”
About NIREC
The Nevada Institute for Renewable Energy Commercialization (NIREC) is a 501(c)3 independent nonprofit organization actively involved in igniting innovation, driving commercialization and fueling acceleration as a innovation intermediary in Nevada. Its activities are designed to help diversify the Silver State’s economy by working closely with its primary research institutions, DRI, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the University of Nevada, Reno to help transform innovative ideas into sustainable enterprises.