Das Greenhaus plans to launch a search for a new leader after the departure of its program director during its first two years of existence.
Das Greenhaus is a business incubator aimed at temporarily housing and nurturing startups with an end-goal of bringing strategic businesses into the city and Kendall County.
Justin McKenzie, at the helm of Das Greenhaus since its inception, said Tuesday he is proud of the work accomplished by the business-building firm he helped launch.
Now chief operating officer of CharityACE, he remains a part of Das Greenhaus in a volunteer role after serving as its director for 15 months — which capped about a six-year run for McKenzie, from initially formulating the idea, to developing a business plan, to securing funding and eventually opening in 2023.
“There’s a lot of innovation,” McKenzie said. “We found and filled an important business gap in our community.”
McKenzie remains president of the Boerne Kendall County Angel Network, designed to create “a community of Angels” focused on making Boerne and Kendall County visible to entrepreneurs and business leaders looking to find a home for their next venture, working closely with Das Greenhaus and the Boerne Kendall County Economic Development Corp. (BKEEDC) to do so.
“When Justin took position, it was an interim position, the intention was to develop Das Greenhaus and build it up,” said Amy Story, BKEEDC president and CEO. “He is one of our founders and from the beginning, it was clear he would step in and continue to grow Das Greenhaus.”
Story, a Das Greenhaus board member, said another business opportunity presented itself to McKenzie, and that his eventual departure “was totally expected.”
“This was in Das Greenhaus’s plan. It was never intended for him to stay in this role forever,” she said.
Samantha Morganroth, Das Greenhaus program coordinator, will continue in that role.
“I think we realize Samantha has more capabilities and skills to contribute, so her role will grow,” Story said. “Fundraising is always going to be a function of the program director’s role, we’re still firming that up.”
McKenzie confirmed his business goals in relationship to Das Greenhaus’s future.
“I’m not going anywhere. I’m stepping out of staff and returning in a volunteer role,” he said. “I’m really excited about its growth and potential impact on our business community.”
Story echoes McKenzie’s role-change at the business incubator he helped to create.
“The sky is not falling, (Das Greenhaus) is not going away,” she said, squelching rumors to the contrary.
“We’re in an entrepreneurial atmosphere. We just want to make sure Das Greenhaus is providing the mentorship, resources and make the best of the programming we offer,” she said.
“Everyone in this community should be rooting for Das Greenhaus to continue to succeed,” she added. “It’s unusual for a community our size to have a valuable resource like this.”
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