Speaker Friday, May 23, 2025
Every successful entrepreneur has a story—but few understand what happens behind the scenes of those early make-or-break moments. Angela Crane-Jones, Chief Executive Officer of the Nashville Business Incubation Center (NBIC), offers a front-row seat into how startups grow, where they stumble, and what really fuels long-term impact. Her perspective is rooted in years of walking alongside founders as they build businesses that shape Nashville’s economic future.
Nashville has become a thriving incubator for businesses of all sizes, and NBIC has been a key player in “making things happen” for aspiring entrepreneurs. At this Green Hills Rotary meeting, Mrs. Crane-Jones will discuss the process of launching a business with support from NBIC, explore what sets successful entrepreneurs apart, and share real-world success stories that have had measurable economic impact across Middle Tennessee.
Join us on Friday, May 23, 2025, at 7:15 a.m. at the Boy Scout Service Center on Hillsboro Road for her presentation.
Angela Crane-Jones excels at helping entrepreneurs accelerate the development and growth of their enterprises. Her business advisory experience spans more than two decades, during which she developed a five-year academic-based entrepreneurship curriculum designed to guide small businesses through four stages of growth. Companies completing this program collectively created 222 new jobs and generated over $70.2 million in sales—a 48 percent increase from their starting point.
Mrs. Crane-Jones’s leadership has led NBIC clients to multiple accolades, including the International Business Innovation Association Client and Graduate of the Year awards and recognition from the Nashville Business Journal. Her current and past clients include the founders of Slim + Husky’s, GT Services, the Grilled Cheeserie, Arch Angel Protective Service, Polk Construction, and Landon Development.
Before joining NBIC, Crane-Jones owned and operated two Dairy Queen franchises. She currently serves as Vice-Chairwoman of the Nashville Farmers Market, Chairwoman of the Tennessee March of Dimes, and board member for The Salvation Army, Old National Bank, and Studio Bank.
She earned both her Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Arts in Administration and Supervision from Tennessee State University.
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