The Main Street America Institute: What’s Next?
Last year, we announced upcoming changes to the Main Street America Institute. We are excited to provide an update on those changes and a sneak peek at what you can expect in the future.
Tasha leads the development and delivery of Main Street America’s education program and training offerings. This includes leading the development of new capacity building, training, and professional development opportunities for the Main Street America Network and shaping the education experience at the Main Street Now Conference. They lead the Education Department and work in close partnership with others in the Impact Division and colleagues across the organization to ensure that MSA’s educational offerings are accessible, practical, and advance the organization’s mission and values. Tasha strategizes and collaborates across divisions to develop internal capacity and strengthen the impact of MSA’s technical assistance services.
Before Main Street, Tasha served as Executive Director of the Kentucky Entrepreneurship Education Network, a nonprofit serving Kentucky’s budding entrepreneurial talent. Along with program quality and impact, Tasha focused on organizational growth and fundraising, successfully doubling program size, fostering strategic partnerships and broadening funding.
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Its flagship program, The Kentucky Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs, is a household name and notable employment credential in Kentucky due to the effort and impact of Tasha’s leadership. Their dedication to access, quality, and inclusivity identified and equipped a promising generation of next-level ecosystem builders. The result was a diverse, brilliant workforce of innovation practitioners in Kentucky. This cultivation network and approach to igniting a lifelong passion for entrepreneurship and small business is now studied globally for best practices.
In 2021, Tasha launched Home Appalachia, an initiative geared to uplift the talent of the LGBTQ+ community in Eastern Kentucky in alignment with broader economic development and revitalization efforts. Recognizing the inextricable link between diversity and economic development, Tasha is an accomplished and respected leader in the national field of inclusive innovation, and they have been instrumental in the development of ecosystem success in Kentucky. They hold a bachelor’s degree in English Education and a master’s degree in Instructional Leadership, both from Eastern Kentucky University.
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Articles & Publications
Program Spotlight: Building a Community Support Network for Rural Entrepreneurs
Tasha Sams, Manager of Education Programs, shares highlights of phase one of the Equitable Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (E3) in Rural Main Streets Program and the biggest takeaways from the workshop experiences.
Program Spotlight: The 2023 Appalachian Big Ideas Festival in Hazard, Kentucky
Tasha Sams shared their experiences at this unique Appalachian cultural festival.
