Lindenwood University announced Quentin Ortega as the new Director of ITEN. Although new to the role, Ortega has been involved with ITEN for many years as an Entrepreneur in Residence.

In his position, Ortega will oversee ITEN and The Duree Center for Entrepreneurship, both housed within the Robert W. Plaster School of Business & Entrepreneurship. He is passionate about process improvement, fostering in-market growth, and implementing disruptive innovation and thought leadership into a myriad of organizations.

“I'm thrilled to be able to continue my work helping the St. Louis entrepreneurship ecosystem in this new role,” said Ortega. “For over a decade, ITEN has been a cornerstone in our region as a vital resource for early stage companies. Now, with Lindenwood University, we are looking at expanding our impact even further to reach a broader audience of entrepreneurs, who are establishing the next generation of economic growth for our region.”

Ortega brings more than 15 years of experience that will enhance Lindenwood’s entrepreneurial spirit. Bolstered by a passion for mentorship and analytical expertise, Ortega is the President and CEO of QCO Consulting, focused on promoting success in companies of all sizes. He has been awarded several grants, is fluent in grant writing, and has served as a judge for previous Arch Grants.

Additionally, he has worked with the National Science Foundation, Lumate, and Great Data Lake. His experience reaches a multitude of industries, including mobile and health technologies, GIS enabled technologies, music and entertainment, and more.

Ortega received his MBA, bachelor’s degree in management and information systems, and sustainable business certificate from Missouri University of Science and Technology.