Doug Schacht announced as new leader of prominent entrepreneurship center
Exciting changes are coming to Fox Valley Technical College’s Venture Center, all aimed at helping more entrepreneurs bring their visions to life.
With a renewed focus on entrepreneurial development, the college has announced Doug Schacht, department chair of Entrepreneurship Studies & Venture Center, will serve as the center’s new leader, replacing director Amy Pietsch who retired from the college in late 2024.
For the past 12 years, Schacht has shared his passion for business at FVTC, guiding students in entrepreneurship and small business management. Before that, Schacht gained extensive experience in the real estate and construction industries, playing a vital role in numerous entrepreneurial projects.
While continuing his teaching duties, Schact will lead the Venture Center with an eye toward expanding its reach, by guiding both the well-known E-Seed entrepreneurship training program and the Innovation Accelerator for Veterans.
“We want to positively impact business start-up and creation in the communities we serve within the Fox Valley Technical College district,” Schacht explains. “Our e-Seed programs are running, and we have two cohorts going for the Innovation Accelerator for Veterans. We’re working with veterans here in our backyard and helping them realize their dream of business ownership.”
A key goal for Schacht is to build a stronger community for alumni. He plans to expand resources, including workshops and networking opportunities, so small business owners can continue to connect, learn and support each other long after completing a Venture Center or FVTC program.
“Our direction remains the same and our programs remain the same,” explains Schacht. “We may look at doing some things differently, but we are very much still here to serve business startup and job creation in northeast Wisconsin.”
Fox Valley Technical College, part of the Wisconsin Technical College System, offers more than 250 associate degree, technical diploma and other certificate programs. It serves more than 45,000 individuals annually — more than any other technical college in the state.