Dana Payne previews Founders Inc. entrepreneurship hub for Clarksville Montgomery County students
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Summary
Dana Payne, director of career and technical education for the Clarksville Montgomery County School System, led a preview of the district's Founders Inc. entrepreneurship hub, outlining makerspaces, a 'Shark Tank' presentation stage and media labs and asking business partners to volunteer as the center prepares to open in 2026.
Dana Payne, director of career and technical education for the Clarksville Montgomery County School System, led a preview of the district's future Founders Inc. entrepreneurship hub, outlining makerspaces, a presentation stage and media labs the district expects to open in 2026.
Payne described an entry area designed "to have a coffee shop type feel, a place where students will be able to showcase the products that they're developing and building," and said the space is intended for students to meet business partners and mentors.
"So this is the green room," Payne said, describing a preparation area where "students are gonna be shaking off the nervous jitters as they're getting ready to come on stage." She called the main presentation area the "Shark Tank," saying the space will include "stage, big presentation screen, lighting, mics, all the cameras" so students can explain and pitch their products to investors or guests in the room.
Payne outlined the makerspace equipment that students will use to build prototypes: construction tools, CNC machines, engravers and 3D printers. She said the facility will include both messier fabrication areas and cleaner workspaces for finishing and marketing.
The preview included plans for apparel and large-format printing for T-shirt and poster production and a marketing and media space equipped with a green screen, broadcasting tools and a podcasting room to help students create promotional content.
A presenter addressing the room urged local business owners and entrepreneurs to volunteer and work with the district. "We want to see you volunteering and coming and working side by side with the school system to make sure that Burt Innovation Center and Founders Inc is a success in our community," the Presenter said, adding that students in the Clarksville Montgomery County School System "will be future business owners" and community leaders.
Payne closed by thanking those in attendance and saying the district looks forward to welcoming students, staff, business partners and mentors when the center opens in 2026.