Meet The Staff

Executive Director - Jerry Ross

Jerry Ross is an experienced entrepreneur and businessman whose two decades of experience include leadership positions with AT&T, Ohio Bell, and Goal Systems Software. His local entrepreneurial ventures include Sky-Tracker of Florida, Semco Properties and Maverick Business Magazine.

Jerry was selected in a nationwide search to become the Executive Director of the National Entrepreneur Center, which is located in Orlando, Florida. The E-Center is a unique public/private partnership, and is home to a variety of business support organizations who are dedicated to the growth and development of small businesses everywhere.

Jerry has been called a “virtual business incubator” and “a small business grower” by the Orlando Business Journal for his entrepreneurial success and his on-going support of the small business community. Jerry was named one of the "top 10 businessmen to watch" in Central Florida and in 2010 was named a finalist for a Don Quixote Award by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Jerry has published numerous articles on small business and is a nationally recognized speaker on entrepreneurship and small business development. He has participated in business conferences all over the U.S. and as far away as Merida, Mexico and Cairo, Egypt.

He has an MBA from Dayton University and is a Certified Business Consultant from the University of Central Florida and he calls Orlando home.

Read the Director's Blog! Click here to see what Jerry has to say!

Assistant Director - Julie Matthews

Julie A. Matthews was named Assistant Director of the entrepreneur center in Orlando, Florida in August 2005.

As the Assistant Director of the NEC, she manages the daily operations of the center, including fiscal & facility management, grants management, human resource management, client coordination, and assists in the implementation of specialty programs and services.

Most recently, Julie managed the 1.7 million dollar buildout and relocation of the center to Orlando Fashion Square, and activily participated in the rebranding of the center from the Disney Entrepreneur Center to the National Entrepreneur Center (NEC).

Ms. Matthews is a certified Incubator Manager through the National Business Incubation Association, is actively involved with the Orlando Chapter of The National Association of Woman Business Owners (NAWBO) and supports the Florida Business Incubation Association.(FBIA)

Ms. Matthews joined the University of Central Florida in October 2003 as the Program Coordinator for the Downtown Orlando Technology Incubator. She oversaw the design & build-out of the 4,000 square foot facility, as well as marketing and promotional activities, client coordination and general facility management. Ms. Matthews served as the UCF Technology Incubator's On-site representative to the Disney/SBA National Entrepreneur Center (NEC) and represented them on the NEC's management board since inception of the Center in June 2004.

Ms. Matthews is the immediate past Program Manager for the Florida Business Incubation Association (FBIA), an organization which provides information and program development to support the growth and operation of business incubation in the State of Florida.

She was born in Indianapolis, Indiana and received her Associates Degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Small Business Management from Valencia Community College in Orlando, Florida and is currently finishing her BA at the Unversity of Central Florida. Julie has over 20 years of practical business experience. She is married to an entrepreneur, which has given her first hand knowledge of the daily challenges that small business owners face. In her spare time she loves traveling, boating, fishing and scuba diving as well as spending time with her family.