Conaway Haskins is Vice President of Entrepreneurial Ecosystems for the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC), a nonprofit that creates technology-based economic development strategies to accelerate innovation, imagination, and the next generation of technology companies. Haskins has spent 20 years working in economic development, government affairs, and public policy at the national, state, and local levels. Before he stepped into his role at VIPC, he was the associate director of the Virginia Tech Center for Food Systems and Community Transformation and a faculty affiliate of the Center for Economic and Community Engagement.

He has a bachelor’s degree in government and politics from George Mason University and a master's degree in regional planning and economic development from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

1. What was your first job and what did it teach you?

My first job was a cashier at a local Hardee's when I was in high school, and it taught me a lot about the value of hard work and blue-collar jobs.

It also taught me how important everybody's job is, particularly in regional economies in small towns. Every job that was available was so important because of the different economic changes happening.

2. What is your proudest accomplishment over the course of your career?

When I was in college and graduate school, I had many opportunities to participate in internships, allowing me to learn the value of work-based learning early on.

Once I was in a position to do so, I hired my own interns whenever I could. My proudest accomplishment is seeing the great things a lot of my interns have gone on to do in their careers. Now I'm calling them and asking them for help. These were folks that started with me when they were kids, and they have grown up to be incredible adults and wonderful professionals.

3. What projects are you currently working on at VIPC?

I run two of our divisions. I manage our entrepreneurial ecosystems division, which does a lot of work with regional ecosystem stakeholders, accelerators, incubators, and local economic development agencies. I've recently assumed management of our commercialization program as well, which collaborates with our universities to encourage technology transfer and research commercialization in the marketplace.

I'm starting to bring together these two interesting portfolios with the goal of having a more holistic innovation ecosystem development approach for the commonwealth.

4. What do you like most about serving on CECE’s advisory board?

I enjoy maintaining my connection to Virginia Tech through serving on the advisory board. I worked at Virginia Tech for about six years before coming to VIPC and did a lot of work with the CECE team.

I like learning about the variety of projects CECE is working on and seeing how older projects are progressing. It's been exciting watching CECE evolve as an organization inside the university.

5. What projects would you like to work with CECE on in the future?

I'd be interested in helping out with Vibrant Virginia because I think that was a great initiative that touched a lot of different parts of the state. It brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, and I think the book turned out nicely.

6. What is the last book you read that you would recommend?

Venture Deals by Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson.

It’s a great, practical book that demystifies startups and venture capital investing.

7. What hobbies and activities do you like to do in your spare time?

In my off time, I’m running both of my son’s high school robotics teams. He does the FIRST Tech Challenge as well as the FIRST Robotics Competition.

Both teams are community-based teams and were created for students that don't have robotics programs at their schools. We have a variety of students from public school, private school, and homeschool on the teams, and they're from all over the Richmond area.

8. What is the most memorable place you have ever visited?

The Grand Canyon. I first visited it when I was 16, and it was the most amazing thing I'd ever seen.

Last summer, I was able to take my son and my wife with me to visit the Grand Canyon. It was incredible to see it during the day, but even more so at night. It just so happened we scheduled our trip for when the National Park Service and NASA were partnering on the Grand Canyon Star Party week. 8,000 feet in the air, you see stars you've never seen before. It felt like standing inside a telescope. I’ve never seen anything like it.