Williamson Named Director of Business Incubation for Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation

The Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Sam M. Walton College of Business has named Andy Williamson as its new director of Business Incubation, where he will help lead three of the college’s signature entrepreneurial programs: the Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program (GORP) the Arkansas Global Cycling Accelerator (AGCA) and the Ozark Retail Accelerator (ORA).

A portion of this position and its associated programs are supported by the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation and the Arkansas Economic Development Commission strengthening the university’s ability to support entrepreneurs, outdoor recreation ventures and emerging businesses connected to Northwest Arkansas’ growing innovation economy.

In this role, Williamson will work with founders, students, mentors, industry partners and community stakeholders to expand the reach and impact of these three programs. Each is designed to help entrepreneurs test ideas, refine business models, connect with experts and accelerate ventures with market potential.

“We are excited to have someone with Andy’s experience join our team.  He brings a unique mixture of entrepreneurship support, outdoor recreation industry, and economic development to OEI, which will only make our team stronger as we continue to build programming to support the founders across our region,” said Phil Shellhamer, executive director of the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

GORP supports entrepreneurs building products and services in the outdoor recreation industry. AGCA focuses on growth-stage tech-enabled ventures connected to cycling, mobility, trail systems, outdoor lifestyle and the broader cycling economy. Together, the programs reinforce Northwest Arkansas’ position as a national destination for entrepreneurs building in the outdoor recreation industry.  New this year, the ORA is in the middle of its first cohort, helping Arkansas-based product companies prepare to sell into large retailers, another industry critical to the Northwest Arkansas region.

Williamson’s appointment comes as the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation continues to expand experiential learning and venture support across the University of Arkansas and the region.

“I’m excited to help entrepreneurs move from idea to action and from early traction to sustainable growth,” Williamson said. “Northwest Arkansas has a powerful combination of talent, industry, trails, community support and entrepreneurial energy. GORP and the Cycling Accelerator are well positioned to help founders turn that energy into viable businesses.”

About the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation: The Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Arkansas creates and supports programs that help students, faculty, alumni and community members develop entrepreneurial skills, launch ventures and connect with mentors, resources and real-world opportunities. Housed within the Sam M. Walton College of Business, the office advances entrepreneurship as a driver of innovation, economic development and experiential learning.

About the Sam M. Walton College of Business: The Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas is one of the nation's leading public business schools, serving more than 10,300 students across undergraduate, master's and doctoral programs. Through applied learning, impactful research, and deep industry partnerships, Walton prepares leaders to compete and innovate in a global economy.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $3 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.