Susan Ruhlin has been hired as Dirigo Labs’ inaugural director

The Central Maine Growth Council on Thursday announced that it has hired Susan Ruhlin as inaugural executive director for Dirigo Labs, a Waterville-based startup accelerator launching in early 2022.

Ruhlin will be responsible for the day-to-day logistics and operations of Dirigo Labs and will work directly with entrepreneurs, businesses, and local students to provide education of the Dirigo Labs’ suite of services, including preliminary startup consultation, talent retention and recruitment, and manage performance metrics during the project period.

“The central Maine region is Maine’s best-kept secret for launching new ventures,” Ruhlin said. “The commitment and support from the community is palpable, and I’m excited to be part of building an entrepreneurial ecosystem that’s only going to keep growing.”

Central Maine Growth Council designed and led the initiative to create Dirigo Labs and make it a catalyst in establishing a vibrant startup hub in the central Maine region. Last year, the organization received approximately $600,000 from the Economic Development Agency’s Build-to Scale Venture Challenge to fund the project. It also earlier this year received a $25,000 grant to support the creation of Dirigo Labs from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Ruhlin most recently served as vice president of operations for Introspective Systems, a Portland-based technology startup. Before that, she spent eight years as program manager for the Maine Center for Entrepreneurs’ Top Gun accelerator program.

“Susan’s deep experience in Maine’s entrepreneurial landscape will be of significant importance to the regional economy, Waterville’s downtown district, and our growing innovation infrastructure,” Garvan Donegan, director of planning, innovation, and economic development for Central Maine Growth Council, said in a statement. “Her passion for community and startups made Susan an ideal candidate to help lead our efforts across technology sectors and legacy industries.”