Oregon RAIN Thanks Jim Coonan for Three Years of Service,

Welcomes Marc Manley as New Executive Director

Beginning Jan 1, 2017 Marc Manley will take on the full-time role of Executive Director for Oregon RAIN (Regional Accelerator & Innovation Network), a position well served for the past three years by Jim Coonan. Manley and Coonan will work closely together throughout December to transition the leadership role.

During his tenure as Executive Director Jim Coonan made substantial contributions to Oregon’s entrepreneurial ecosystem working with RAIN and by uniting public and private resources. Over the past three years Coonan helped secure state funding for RAIN with matching dollars from private donors, universities, foundations, regional governments and economic development entities. He hired RAIN’s first Venture Catalyst enabling the expansion of entrepreneurial support to Oregon’s mid-coast region and rural communities in the four-county region. In conjunction with the entire RAIN team, he helped to exceed all Business Oregon metrics with 212 jobs created, 375 companies assisted, $17 million invested and $6.4 million in total revenue from startup companies.

As the incoming Executive Director Manley will provide oversight and overall management, vision and leadership for all aspects of RAIN including coordinating development activities and ensuring the long-term viability of the non-profit. In addition, Manley assumes responsibility for linking RAIN activities with strategic partners within the region and throughout the state.

“I am delighted to serve as RAIN’s next Executive Director and have some tremendous shoes to fill,” said Marc Manley, new Executive Director for Oregon RAIN. “Under Jim Coonan’s direction this organization has been highly impactful at advancing our entrepreneurial ecosystem – developing networks of people, programs, and capital to support innovation. These three elements are the key to creating jobs and growing the economy in Linn, Lane, Lincoln, and Benton counties.” 

After a career on Wall Street that included starting a software company and growing it for 12 years, Marc Manley moved to Oregon in 2001 to help Rogue Wave Software launch new products and increase profitability. He also contributed to advancing university education through the Oregon Engineering & Technology Industry Council, and then catalyzed the revitalization of downtown Albany in a public-private partnership with the City of Albany. More recently he led the substantial expansion of a Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Linn Benton Community College, developing effective strategies that grew larger traded sector companies. Manley currently serves as the fund manager for the Willamette Angel Conference LLC, and for the newly formed Willamette Angels Fund, activating local capital to fund entrepreneurs throughout the year.