757 Collab announces promotions

After announcing a new managing director in April, 757 Collab announced more leadership changes and promotions to its umbrella organization May 3.

Hunter Walsh, previously a program manager for 757 Startup Studios, a coworking space in Norfolk where selected entrepreneurs can set up offices at no cost and receive mentoring, became its director on May 1.

Eileen Brewer, previously 757 Collab’s director of strategic partnerships, is succeeding Evans McMillion as executive director of 757 Accelerate. McMillion stepped down April 30 and Brewer began her new role May 1.

Walsh has more than a decade of leadership experience in the private and nonprofit sectors. Before joining 757 Startup Studios, he worked for the Hampton Roads Chamber and Cullipher Farm. He earned his undergraduate degree at James Madison University and his MBA from Virginia Wesleyan University.

Brewer has worked for multiple tech companies in Silicon Valley for the past 20 years. From 2011 until 2019, she worked for Symantec Corp., a California-based software company now known as Gen Digital Inc. In 2015, she was a member of the Golden Seeds angel investing group. Before she joined 757 Collab, she built the first tech startup accelerator in Iraq, according to a news release announcing her promotion.

Paul Nolde, executive managing director of Lighthouse Labs in Richmond, will become managing director of 757 Collab and executive director of 757 Angels on May 30. Monique Adams, current executive director of 757 Angels and managing director of 757 Collab, will step down when Nolde starts work.

757 Angels launched in 2015 and has invested more than $100 million in 49 companies. About 90% of 757 Angels’ member investors hail from Hampton Roads, and all the companies 757 Angels invests in are either Virginia-based or have significant operations in Virginia. 757 Collab includes 757 Angels, 757 Accelerate, a startup accelerator program, and 757 Startup Studios. 757 Collab oversees 757 Angels, as well as 757 Accelerate.