DC entrepreneur Kate Glantz takes on new role with Lyft

D.C. entrepreneur Kate Glantz is off on a new adventure.

After several years with the Peace Corps and the U.S. Department of State, Glantz burst onto the scene of socially-conscious entrepreneurship a couple of years ago. In 2015 she founded the startup Heartful.ly, an online wedding registry for charitable gifts. Earlier this year she decided to step back from her startup and become the director of entrepreneur activities with impact incubator SEED SPOT.

Now Glantz has a new gig: She is joining Lyft’s D.C. office to apply her formidable talents to the role of City Marketing Lead. She was brought on for her marketing skills, proven entrepreneurial spirit and strong roots in and knowledge of the D.C. area, according to reps from the ridesharing company.

Although her new position is not a social impact–based role, Glantz maintains a characteristic focus on the power of business to affect human lives for good.

“This role combines my passion for building community with my excitement to leverage technology as a means to improve quality of life here in the District,” Glantz said.

Glantz, who won one of Technical.ly DC’s 2016 Innovation Awards, will be responsible for developing locally focused marketing campaigns and implementing strategies to bring passengers and drivers to Lyft in the D.C. area.

“Kate brings an incredible blend of marketing, tech, and entrepreneurship experience along with a strong creative mind and a keen eye for innovation,” Steven Taylor, general manager of Lyft D.C., said in a statement. “I’m certain that she will bring fresh eyes to the great work we’ve been doing in DC and continue to build our brand in the region.”

The ridesharing company, which is increasingly angling to capitalize on Uber’s continued tumult, announced some other hiring news yesterday: former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett was named to Lyft’s board of directors.