Deborah Watts Joins Lipscomb University as Executive Director of Spark Idea Center

Project Description

CarterBaldwin Executive Search is pleased to share Lipscomb University’s announcement that Dr. Deborah Watts has been appointed Executive Director of Spark, an innovative and technology-rich learning and meeting facility and idea center on the Lipscomb campus that offers corporate training and education opportunities as well as gathering and meeting spaces for the community.

Watts is founder and CEO of Hayde and Company, a talent optimization consulting firm. She also serves as a certified partner for The Predictive Index and is the executive director and senior consultant for the Leadership Pipeline Institute. Watts also helped launch the Nashville start-up America’s PowerSports and is a national speaker on topics regarding leadership and emotional intelligence. In addition, she has worked with several local and international universities, and is currently an adjunct professor at Trevecca Nazarene University.

“With more than 20 years of experience in the corporate world and more than a decade in executive education, Dr. Deborah Watts not only has a wealth of expertise but the deep connections in and commitment to serving this community that uniquely position her for successfully fulfilling our mission for Spark,” said John Lowry, senior vice president for advancement at Lipscomb University and founder of Spark. “Her vision and leadership will make a tremendous impact on our community.”

In her new appointment, Watts will oversee operations of the two facilities, develop programming and content, cultivate corporate partnerships and lead marketing efforts for the entity’s digital content, seeking new and innovative ways to deliver education through programming offered at Spark.

Watts holds a BS in organizational communication and an MBA from Lipscomb University as well as an EdD in leadership and professional practice from Trevecca Nazarene University.

About Spark Idea Center
In 2012, Lipscomb University launched its first Spark location in the Cool Springs area of Franklin, Tennessee. Lipscomb opened a second Spark location in September 2017 in the heart of downtown Nashville at the corner of 4th Avenue and Commerce Street. Spark integrates people with architecture, technology, and expertise for the purpose of inspiring creativity, fostering dialog, engaging in learning, and enhancing collaboration. These are the unique qualities that make Spark the leading corporate learning facility in the Nashville area.