managing director of WESST incubator dies

Doug Lee, managing director of the WESST incubator in Albuquerque NM since February 2008 died unexpectedly on October 20. Lee led the growth of the incubator which was described in  2011 as of the seven hottest start-up incubators in the US by CNN.com magazine. He had a long history of helping startups; previously he had been executive director of Louisiana Technonlogy Park.

“He had a passion for entrepreneurs, and he brought that passion to his work. He loved working with startups and with people who had an idea for something,” said Agnes Noonan, president of WESST. “It was incredible to us.”

A memorial "Celebration of Doug's life" will be held at the WESST Enterprise Center on October 30 from 3-6pm. Details can be found here. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Doug Lee Entrepreneurship Fund, established in Doug’s honor by WESST to support  emerging and established New Mexico entrepreneurs.