Urban Innovation21 Adds to its team - Max Miller to Fill the Executive Vice President Position

PITTSBURGH, Nov. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Urban Innovation21 is excited to announce that Max Miller has joined the Urban Innovation21 team as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.  Miller comes to Urban Innovation21 with 20 years of corporate legal experience and transactional experience as well as 10 years of innovation and new venture experience.

From the ownership of his own ventures – a management consulting firm and a sensory marketing firm, to his active engagement in the innovation community, to his 10 years of fortune 100 company experience, Miller brings a unique entrepreneurial view to Urban Innovation21.

"Being innovative means being willing to manage complex problems and take risk. It's something that our communities have to do all the time in other contexts; now it's time to apply those skills in the context of building a vibrant economy in our city neighborhoods.  I am thrilled to be a part of the efforts to support business creation and a focused entrepreneurial mindset," said Miller.

Prior to joining Urban Innovation21, Miller managed his own consulting firm. Before that, served as the Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel for the national office of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, where he managed IT, finance, HR, diversity and inclusion, legal, and subject matter expert departments.  In 2008, Max founded and directed the University of Pittsburgh School Of Law's Innovation Practice Institute (IPI), where his primary duties included strategic program direction, design and execution, curriculum development, market research and competitive analysis, and the sourcing of funding for adjunct faculty resources and operating costs.  He also has over 10 years of corporate experience having served as an attorney for Federated Investors and as an attorney and business person for HJ Heinz Company.

"This is such an important and exciting time for our city and region as we collectively work to make sure that all communities are connected to our region's prosperity. Adding Max to our team as COO is a critical step as we look to expand the breadth and scope of our work," said William Generett, Jr., CEO of Urban Innovation21.

Urban Innovation21 is a public-private partnership, which works to build our regions innovation sectors while simultaneously working to connect women and minorities to those sectors.  Urban Innovation21 boost regional economic development through 21st century innovation-driven entrepreneurship.

Urban Innovation21 Partners and Supporters: Alcoa Foundation, Allegheny County Department of Economic Development, Carlow University, Community College of Allegheny County, Duquesne University, the Heinz Endowments, the Hill House Association, Hillman Foundation, Idea Foundry, Innovation Works, PA Department of Community and Economic Development, PNC Bank, Point Park University, Richard King Mellon Foundation, Reed Smith, Roy A. Hunt Foundation, Surdna Foundation, UPMC Health Plan, The Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh and the Federal Government Economic Development Administration. www.urbaninnovation21.org

SOURCE Urban Innovation21