Press Release
Contact: Jim Malsch, CEO
Enterprise Computing Services, Inc.
318-219-3427
After Nationwide Search, Jessica Schiele Named Cohab Executive Director
After a six-year stint as Cohab’s Director of Programs and seven months as its interim Executive Director, the Cohab Board of Directors has named Jessica Schiele the Executive Director.
The Cohab search committee looked nationwide for candidates, working with an Austin, Texas-based firm to gather resumes. Many hours and interviews later, it was apparent to the board that Schiele was the most qualified for the position.
As an integral part of the innovative downtown co-working space from the beginning, Schiele was well known to the board as hard-working, creative and passionate about her job and the mission of Cohab. In addition to the many hats she wore as Director of Programs, she is also responsible for writing winning grant applications to further Cohab’s mission, including a recent $50,000 2016 Growth Accelerator Fund Small Business Administration Award.
“This grant was a particularly big deal because of the national and federal nature of the grant,” says board member Grant Nuckolls, proprietor of the Shreveport-Bossier Twisted Root restaurants. “We give Jessica total ownership of the discovery of- and application for- this award.”
As important as it is, her grant-writing ability is but one skill that made Jessica stand out, says board chairman Jim Malsch of ECS.
“Jessica is just passionate about Cohab’s mission. We think her skills and knowledge will help us grow this valuable resource, create more programs, and engage more start-ups and entrepreneurs. We know that she will also work to strengthen Cohab’s ties to other organizations that are also working to enhance, create and empower local businesses.”
Schiele is thrilled to be able to put her imprint on the organization and has some priorities that align with her dual role as wife/mother and CEO. “I look forward to fleshing out a more robust youth entrepreneurship program and creating more family-friendly networking opportunities. If our kids know that there is a place for entrepreneurs, if it is something they become passionate about, we will have served our mission well.”
