Our Mission.
The mission of the Lucas Center for Entrepreneurship is to create opportunities for economic empowerment across our communities and region by providing access to the mentors, peers, resources, education, and partners to help business goals come to life.
Our founding story.
November 2021
When Dr. Skip Mounts and lifelong entrepreneur Art Lucas talked over their regular breakfast about creating impact for our students and our region, they always came back to the power of entrepreneurship. As they watched local initiatives, start-ups, students, and development efforts surge and ebb, they recognized a gap in the small business ecosystem in the Golden Isles: there was no hub to connect resources, mentors, and the community with entrepreneurs and their ideas. The Lucas Center for Entrepreneurship was born to fill this gap.
Meet our CEO, Dr. Ande Noktes.
Ande (sounds like Gandhi without the G) serves as the CEO and Executive Director of the Lucas Center for Entrepreneurship, where she focuses on creating lasting and positive social impact.
Driven by a genuine belief in the power of human potential, Ande is dedicated to creating opportunities that help communities and organizations build on their strengths. With an emphasis on collaboration and a belief that we all have what we need to bring our visions to life, she works to inspire growth and resilience while staying grounded in the values of service and community engagement.