Power Moves: Philly OIT’s director of innovation departs for Coded by Kids

Power Moves is a column where we chart the comings and goings of talent across the region. Got a new hire, gig or promotion? Email us: philly@technical.ly.

Erickson — you probably know her by her maiden name, Pollack — starts the position Tuesday, with the task of helping the Philly-based organization think about its next phase of growth. The org is well known in the region, she said, and is thinking about broadening its impact and expanding its reach of getting underrepresented folks into tech and innovation careers.

Erickson is a self-proclaimed lover of working for city government. Much of her time with OIT was spent on the Innovation Consulting program, training government employees how to problem-solve creatively through workshops. It’s what she thinks about most often when reflecting on her tenure, she told Technical.ly — “the number of teams and employees that reached out to say, ‘Now is the time for us to think differently, can you help us?'”

And although the last three years of work has been impacted by the pandemic, the mindset shift in early 2020 that proved government can make quick, efficient, digitally minded changes is one she hopes stays. She also hopes the increased work-life balance continues, along with the focus on digital equity and literacy.

The new role with Coded by Kids plays to the strengths Erickson built before her time at the City; after graduate school, she worked with Project Home. The nonprofit work ahead of her is exciting, she said, and she’s looking forward to being somewhere “a little nimbler,” with less of the red tape often found in government. She’s also excited about the autonomy, flexibility and core challenges of the job.

“I was never going to do non mission-driven, impact work, especially in Philly’s tech and innovation ecosystem,” she said. “There was a lot I was looking for in my next role that I was nervous about leaving behind, and this role hit those marks.”

Nextmv cofounder departs

Andrew Hoagland. (Courtesy photo)

Following the birth of his second child, Nextmv cofounder Andrew Hoagland announced this month that he would be transitioning out of his role. The startup makes a developers-first platform for logistics optimization with a goal of being accessible to lower-lift technologist users.

This isn’t Hoagland’s first startup. Back in 2020, he wrote about why he shut down his then-two-year-old B2B company, Vetd.

As a cofounder, “you really do feel like the company is tied to you in special and unique ways,” Hoagland told Technical.ly, and he has “a hundred” things he’s proud of at Nextmv, including what the team built and the people it cultivated.

“Across the board, the team is composed of brilliant, hard working, caring, and wonderful people. I always looked forward to my job and that is something that only happens when you really like the people you work with,” he said.

But the technologist said taking time to be with his “growing family” is at the forefront of his plans right now, before he plans to do some consulting work with early-stage companies that are looking for go-to-market feedback. After that, he’ll look for his next full-time role.

Promotions at Osage Venture Partners

Emily Foote (left) and Sean Dowling. (Courtesy photos)

Early-stage VC firm Osage Venture Partners is seeing some change in its leadership this week as two investors move up the ranks. Sean Dowling was promoted from partner to managing partner, and Emily Foote was promoted from principal to partner, the firm said Tuesday.

“Sean has been a valued member of our team for years, consistently demonstrating his ability to drive results and build strong relationships with our portfolio companies,” Managing Partner Nate Lentz said in a release. “Emily has also been a key contributor, bringing a wealth of operating experience and strategic thinking to the table.”

The pair both sit on the boards of many of the firm’s portfolio companies and will “serve as the foundation for the next generation of our firm’s leadership,” Lentz said. Dowling comes from a strategic consulting background, with experience in London and Boston before Philadelphia, while Foote comes to investing from running a startup herself in the tech education space.

“Together, Sean and Emily have done a remarkable job building our franchise, distinguishing OVP’s investment value-add, and expanding our network,” Lentz said.

Philly’s new Venture for America leader

Amanda Arroyo. (Courtesy photo)

Venture for America, which places recent graduates and early careerists into startup ventures for two-year stints around the country, this week welcomes a new Philadelphia director: Amanda Arroyo. She’ll work with local startups and VFA fellows, plus area philanthropic institutions to staff and grow startup knowledge in the region.

The program is in its 10th year in Philadelphia, and has grown a list of more than 150 fellows and alumni who’ve gone on to found startups such as Stix and OneClick. The current class of fellows includes 12 fellows working at local startups.

Arroyo comes to the role with experience in public and private sectors, plus a master’s degree in social work. She said in a statement that she’s looking forward to building stronger connections with higher education institutions, and VC firms in the area.

“One of the many reasons I’m excited about VFA is because of the opportunity to funnel Gen Z entrepreneurial talent to the Philadelphia region,” Arroyo said in a statement. “Enticing the next generation of startup leaders and founders to make Philadelphia their city of choice will only strengthen our economy.”

Greenphire’s new CFO

Owen Newman. (Courtesy photo)

Clinical trial payments company Greenphire is welcoming a new chief financial officer in Owen Newman.

Greenphire adds Newman to its leadership team to aid in the company’s “continued growth and expansion this year and beyond,” CEO Jim Murphy said in a statement. The King of Prussia-based company was acquired in 2021 by Thoma Bravo.

Newman comes to the company with more than 25 years in financial operations, with background in financial operations management, risk management, strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, process improvement and regulatory compliance. He was most recently CFO of Simeio which specializes in identity and access management.

“Greenphire has a wealth of opportunities for high growth and value creation, with robust strategies to drive long-term results,” Newman said in a statement. “Through innovative product development and exceptional customer service, the company has seen continued success in expanding its reach both domestically and internationally. I’m confident my experience can help take them to the next level.”