Candi Karsjens has been named the new director of North Iowa Area Community College’s John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center following the departure of Tim Putnam in December 2021. Karsjens joined NIACC’s Pappajohn center in 2019 as director of innovation and acceleration, bringing more than 30 years of experience in business and industry, including owning several businesses. In the last three years she has collaborated with startups and business owners on their growth and strategic plans, served as the lead instructor for Venture School, a University of Iowa program for startups, and worked to build out north Iowa’s mentorship network and create regional economic development partnerships. Putnam served as director of the center for the last eight years and left to take a business development role with Iowa startup Inseer Inc. Learn more