Venture Asheville director Kaplan hopes to use board position to help WNC entrepreneurs

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — The newest member to the state's Board of Science, Technology and Innovation hopes to secure more grant funding for mountain entrepreneurs.

Jeffrey Kaplan was sworn in Tuesday afternoon after being appointed by Gov. Roy Cooper.

As director of Venture Asheville, Kaplan has helped fill 186 high-growth jobs. Kaplan now hopes to show how mountain companies are making technology and innovation improvements though non-traditional means.

"Part of it is educating the board and at that level what kinds of innovation and technology is being produced out here," Kaplan said.

Kaplan points to successes including East Fork Pottery, where technology automation has made the company a mass producer of craft pottery, and Moonlight Makers, who used e-commerce to become the fastest growing regional apparel company.