Grace Rains named executive director of the Conductor

The Conductor has named Grace Rains as its new executive director. She has served as director of operations since joining the organization in August 2019.

The Conductor is an entrepreneurial support organization that offers free resources through one-on-one consultations, webinars, events, and other activities.

“I can’t say enough good things about Grace and her leadership. She has done a fabulous job executing with excellence and growing the impact of the Conductor, despite the ramifications of the global pandemic,” said Jeff Standridge, Managing Director of the Conductor. “This move is a natural and logical recognition of the critical role Grace has played as a leader in the organization since she first walked in the door.”

For the past two years, Rains has guided the execution of the Conductor and UCA’s Makerspace programming. She is also responsible for cultivating strategic partnerships and consulting with current and aspiring entrepreneurs.

In her new role as executive director, Rains assumes overall leadership responsibility for the Conductor, including strategy and execution, while continuing to expand its statewide impact.

“I’m humbled and grateful to take on the role of executive director”, said Rains. “We serve a tenacious group of clients with a hardworking, innovative team, and I could not be more inspired to further our mission of empowering entrepreneurs, innovators, and makers.”

Rains also serves as executive director of the Ark Angel Alliance, Arkansas’ only active, statewide Angel Investor Association.

Prior to joining the Conductor, she worked in business development at Conway Regional Health System.