OEN NewsMaggie Finnerty to Serve as Oregon Entrepreneurs Network’s new President and Executive Director

After a rigorous search process, Maggie Finnerty has been selected to succeed Linda Weston as President and Executive Director for Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN).

With over 12 years of corporate law, seven years of economic development, and ten years of business development and marketing experience, Finnerty has a proven track record of building and leading programs and teams in both the non-profit and for-profit sectors.

Finnerty will join the OEN staff in September to participate in a three-month transition process and will officially take on her new role in January 2017 after Weston retires in December.

“I am thrilled to be joining OEN,” says Finnerty. “Filling Linda Weston’s shoes will not be easy—she and OEN have had a significant impact on Oregon’s economy. I’ve worked with entrepreneurs in various capacities over the last 15 years and I am very much looking forward to focusing on supporting the growth of entrepreneurship throughout the state. I hope to find ways to bring even more value to our members and sponsors and to create new programs in response to demand from our constituents.”

As Client Relations and Marketing Manager at Perkins Coie LLP, Finnerty builds consensus between diverse, internal groups to help create and pursue targeted business opportunities. Before joining Perkins Coie in 2012, she served as Vice President of Investor Stewardship at Greater Portland Inc. (GPI), where she built relationships and partnerships between the public and private sectors to drive economic development in the Portland/Metro region.

In 2006, Finnerty launched Lewis & Clark Law School’s Small Business Legal Clinic (SBLC), which she ran for over five years. The SBLC’s mission is to provide low-cost business transactional legal services to small businesses, primarily those owned by women, minorities, and recent immigrants.

Says Scott Davidson, Chair of OEN’s Board of Directors, “We are confident that Maggie will carry on Linda’s legacy of unwavering passion and skillful diplomacy. During her 17 years at OEN, Linda has brought the organization to the next level, and we believe Maggie’s impressive legal, marketing, and economic development experience will ensure that OEN not only stays relevant but continues to reach new heights.”

Weston’s departure will bring to a close an extraordinary 17 years of service to OEN and the entrepreneurial community in Oregon. “It is of utmost importance to me to leave OEN in good hands, and I couldn’t be more pleased to give the reigns to Maggie,” says Weston. “I see in her the strength, passion, and dedication that this position requires, and I’m confident she will do a tremendous job.”

Following her retirement from OEN, Weston plans to continue supporting local businesses as a nonprofit and startup consultant.