Nancy H. Brown

About Nancy H. Brown

I build and scale organizations that turn systems into impactful outcomes, particularly where federal contracting, workforce development, and public impact intersect. Across 17 years in public, nonprofit, and private sector environments, I have transformed complex, multi stakeholder systems into high performing, accountable organizations. My work focuses on aligning federal priorities, industry needs, and workforce development strategies to strengthen national supply chains and expand economic opportunity, particularly for marginalized populations. As Executive Director of the Kentucky APEX Accelerator, I lead a statewide initiative connecting businesses to federal contracting opportunities and strengthening the defense industrial base. Under my leadership, the program has grown into a coordinated economic engine serving all 120 counties and helping drive more than $3.7 billion in contract awards to Kentucky businesses each year. I have built a strategic platform that brings together federal agencies, research institutions, industry partners, and economic development organizations to advance national security priorities and regional competitiveness.My work within the Department of Defense ecosystem, nationally recognized through the 3 Nunn Perry Awards, reflects my ability to build partnerships that expand supplier participation, strengthen workforce pipelines, and improve mission delivery outcomes.As Board Chair of Opportunity for Work and Learning and the Lexington Manufacturing Center, I provide governance and strategic oversight for a workforce development and social enterprise organization focused on creating employment pathways for individuals with disabilities and other barriers to employment. I led the organization through governance reform, executive transition, and a full financial restructuring to restore accountability, stabilize operations, and establish a foundation for long term growth.I thrive in navigating complex governance environments and balancing the needs of boards, government partners, community organizations, and industry leaders while maintaining focus on mission, compliance, and positive outcomes. My leadership is defined by clarity in ambiguity, discipline in execution, and accountability for results. Early in my career, I completed an internship with Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan. That experience shaped my leadership philosophy throughout my career; you leave every system, organization, and community stronger than you found it.

Experience

1. Executive Director

   Kentucky Apex Accelerator

   Dec 2020 — Present · Lexington, KY, US

   The Kentucky APEX Accelerator is a program of the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation (KSTC). We are standing to promote inclusive economic development by assisting companies in providing products and or services to Federal, State, and Local governments. This service is offered through coaching, training, and equipping businesses with the tools they need to succeed. We support all 120 counties in the Commonwealth with seven offices in Lexington, Elizabethtown, Bowling Green, Paducah, Louisville, Covington, and Morehead. The KY APEX Accelerator program in Kentucky has been around since 2016 under the management of the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation (KSTC).

Education

• University of Kentucky Department of Communication

  Bachelor's Degree, Communications and Media Studies

• Harvard Business School Online

  Leadership Principles Certification

Skills

• Project Management
• Teamwork
• Workshop Facilitation
• Problem Solving
• Variable Data Printing
• Operations Management
• Presentation Development
• Creative Marketer
• Collateral Materials Development
• Leadership
• Strategic Planning
• Budgeting
• Creative Problem Solving
• Educational Workshops
• Offset Printing
• Consumer Products
• Project Coordination
• Budgets
• Consumer Marketing
• Advertising
• Brand Implementation
• B2c Marketing
• Marketing Communications
• Strategy
• Creative Briefs
• Data Analysis
• Print on Demand
• Market Planning
• Multi-Channel Marketing
• Process Improvement
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Program Management
• Marketing Strategy
• Digital Printing
• Marketing Analytics
• Vendor Management
• Microsoft Office
• Marketing
• Screen Printing
• Retail