Meet the New Assistant Director

 

Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Assistant Director Alexander Hegeman-Davis shares why he’s passionate about helping Wyoming businesses thrive.

 

This spring, the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI) welcomed its new assistant director. We sat down with Alex Hegeman-Davis to learn more about his background and passion for entrepreneurship. 

 

Tell us a bit about your background in entrepreneurship:
Before stepping into this role, most of my background centered on business and entrepreneurship. I grew up working in my family’s bike shop in Champaign, Ill., which is really where my love of customer service and small business started. I went to the University of Wisconsin and earned a degree in history while working full-time in restaurant management. After college, I worked in several management roles at a large e-commerce company before returning home to run our family’s bike shop as president. That role gave me firsthand experience in leading a small business and growing it from the inside out.

 

What are your responsibilities as CEI assistant director?
In this role, I help promote everything the center is doing and work on launching new programs and events that support entrepreneurship at UW and across Wyoming. That includes building relationships on and off campus, working with students and faculty, and helping shape workshops, speakers and resources that make a difference. I’m excited to support a wide range of entrepreneurial activities — whether that’s helping students pitch their first business idea or strengthening ties with local business partners.

 

What drew you to this position?
I’ve always been interested in all things business, but what really drives me is helping others succeed in their own ventures. While running my bike shop, we were able to grow sales and streamline operations, and over time I started helping other shop owners around the country do the same. I found that I truly loved the mentoring side of things — helping people work through challenges, improve what they’re doing and grow stronger businesses. After I sold my own business, I knew I wanted to keep helping others in this space, and this position at UW felt like the perfect fit.

 

What do you hope to accomplish? 
In the short term, I want to help strengthen the center’s role on campus — connecting students, faculty and the broader community with great resources, mentorship and programming. Long term, I’d love to see UW become a real hub for entrepreneurship in the state. Wyoming’s economy depends heavily on small businesses — about 65 percent of the workforce is employed by them, which is pretty incredible. I want to help support those businesses and also encourage new ideas and startups that will help shape the future of Wyoming in exciting ways.

 

What do you love about this field?
Wyoming was really built on the spirit of entrepreneurship, and I love that. Whether it’s a new product, a service or a totally fresh idea, I’m always inspired by the creativity and problem-solving that people bring to the table. Being part of a university setting where students are constantly coming up with new ideas — and getting to help turn some of those into real businesses — is just a really exciting place to be. It’s energizing, and I can’t wait to see what comes next.

 

What do you love about living and working in Wyoming?
I love how easy it is to feel connected — both to the land and to the people. In my role as CEI assistant director, I get to work with students, faculty and community members who are full of big ideas and genuine drive. There’s something really special about helping someone take a spark of an idea and watching it grow into something meaningful.

 

Outside of work, you’ll usually find me on a trail — hiking in the mountains or biking quiet gravel roads. The open space here clears my head and brings me peace. Wyoming has a way of slowing things down just enough to notice what matters. It’s a place that encourages creativity, resilience and grounded ambition — and I feel lucky to call it home.