Charlie D'Agostino, MBA

                                             Executive Director, Louisiana Business & Technology Center

 

Charles D’Agostino, the founder and Executive Director of the Louisiana Business & Technology Center at Louisiana State University (1988), has been actively involved in entrepreneurship, economic development and small business issues for the last 27 years.  He served on the Board of Directors of the Association of University Research Parks (1999-2005) and was re-elected to the board (2011-2017) and is serving as AURP President 2016. He also served on the board of the National Business Incubation Association (1991-1998).  D’Agostino founded the Louisiana Business Incubation Association.  D’Agostino was given the Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Business Incubation Association in 2011. He was 2012 recipient of the Governor’s Leader in Technology Award.  He was appointed to serve on Governor-Elect Edwards’ Economic Development Transition Team 2015-2016. 

 

Under the Louisiana Business and Technology Center (LBTC), D’Agostino directs the Small Business Incubator and the Louisiana Technology Transfer Office (LTTO).  The LTTO is located at LSU and the NASA’s Stennis Space Center.  The LBTC is a 35,000 square foot high-tech business incubator at the LSU Innovation Park of Louisiana State University.  D’Agostino has been charged with developing and managing this 200+ acre research park.  As a Fulbright Specialist, D’Agostino was assigned to the Universita degli Studi dell’Aquila in Italy to assist in the development of an incubator and business disaster recovery after the 2009 Earthquake that destroyed the town and university.

 

Under D’Agostino’s direction, the Louisiana Business & Technology Center was selected as the 2005 National Business Incubator of the Year and the 2009 EDA Excellence in Economic Development Program.  The LSU Innovation Park was named the 2013 Emerging Research Park of the Year by the Association of University Research Parks. 

 

D’Agostino received his bachelor degree from Louisiana State University in 1970 (A&S– Chemistry) and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) in 1972. 

 

The following is a partial listing of D’Agostino’s awards and accomplishments:

• Small Business Administration – Advocate of the Year in Louisiana (1992)

• Phi Delta Kappa Excellence in Research Award (1989)

• Commissioner of the Greater Baton Rouge Port Commission (1996-2005). Served under Governors Roemer, Foster and Blanco.

• Board of the Greater Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce (1986-7, 1992-3, & 2002-2003, 2006-2011)

• Authored a book on Business Incubator Development – “2001

• Worked with companies and hosted visits from China, Brazil, Malaysia, Italy, Liberia, France, Mexico, and delegations hosted by the World Trade Center – New Orleans.

• Named to the Advisory Board of the World Trade Center – New Orleans.