A Chat with Kirk Heriot, Interim Director of the Turner College's New Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Turner Business recently spoke with management professor Kirk Heriot, the Interim Director of the Turner College's new Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Heriot holds the Crowley Distinguished Chair in Entrepreneurship, and, among his teaching responsibilities inside the Turner College, instructs in Georgia's Web MBA program. The transcript of our talk is shown below.

TB: ‎Is there any news to report at this point in the semester in terms of activities in the Turner College's new Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation?

KH: We are hosting workshops to prepare students for the 2026 Cougar Biz Pitch Competition. The deadline for submitting will be Monday, April 6, 2026.

TB: Since you are currently the Interim Director of the Center, are there any plans in place for naming a permanent director?

KH: This decision will be made at the pleasure of the Turner College Dean. It is largely dependent upon funding. Right now, we are having to find money here and there to support activities. I think hiring a permanent director will likely be dependent upon receiving a major gift.

TB: What are the plans and timelines for a build-out of the physical space in the Synovus Center that has been allocated for the new entrepreneurship center?

KH: We met with Operations to find out what they can do. We are waiting for them to provide us a budget. If the budget is acceptable to the Dean, then CSU can request quotes to do the work.

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