About me
Deborah Cummings is a principal and managing director at TEConomy Partners, LLC. Deborah’s 25 years of experience in state and regional innovation-based economic development as a consultant and government official have made her a well-respected thought leader. At TEConomy, Deborah leads projects in entrepreneurial ecosystem development, strategic planning, cluster-based economic development, program assessments, best practice methodology, science and technology policy, and impact analysis. Deborah’s work has been highly influential. She has led TEConomy’s engagements in strategic planning efforts for states such as North Carolina, Oregon, Connecticut, Ohio, Missouri, Michigan, Virginia, and numerous regions nationwide. During her career, which includes nearly 15 years as a senior program manager at the Battelle Technology Partnership Practice, she has managed the design of state and regional technology strategies implemented into robust economic development initiatives. Her work includes analyzing a region’s business community and research assets to determine which factors contribute to the area’s competitive advantage, analyzing its economic position in relation to peers, and developing strategies and actions upon which the region can position itself for future development. As a consultant to the State of Ohio, Deborah had the unique experience of conceiving Ohio’s Third Frontier initiative, a widely acclaimed $2.2 billion economic development investment, then was responsible for implementing, evolving, and renewing that strategy as assistant director at the Ohio Department of Development. Deborah has an M.B.A. from The Ohio State University and a B.B.A. and B.A. from Ohio University’s Honors Tutorial College.
