DIANE DURANCE:
Executive Director of Great Lakes Entrepreneur's Quest (GLEQ) in Ann Arbor. A Michigan-based, statewide organization, GLEQ offers entrepreneurial education and a technology-focused business plan competition for new ventures. GLEQ connects early stage ventures to growth capital and business-development resources. It currently works with 302 start ups and has a network of 130 business coaches and 85 venture investors. Prior to joining GLEQ, Durance was president of the Ann Arbor IT Zone, where she increased membership and member involvement, hosting 160 networking and education events with more than 4,700 attendees annually. She also managed Ann Arbor SPARK facilities, meetings and events, accounting, and reporting, and SPARK Business Accelerator/Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti SmartZone education programs. Prior to joining the IT Zone, Durance had 23 years of experience as an entrepreneur. She founded three companies, including a telecommunications engineering firm at which she was a frequent presenter at national industry trade conferences. She also founded a marketing communications publishing company. She directed a staff of 12 editorial and design professionals and achieved sustained annual revenue of $3 million. Durance also founded a residential home improvement/handyman business that grew to 40 employees and $2 million in revenue with 80 percent market recognition in one year. She is the program committee chairperson for New Enterprise Forum and vice president of the Great Lakes Alternative Energy Association. She chairs the C.S. Mott Foundation initiative to increase entrepreneurship in mid-Michigan and is on the membership committee of MichBio, Michigan's association for life science companies. She is the former chair of the Washtenaw Remodelers Council. Durance received her bachelor's degree in business administration and master's degree in public administration from Southern Methodist University.
