FUN IN THE ROCKET CITY

Our BE MORE YOU campaign is focused on emboldening our shoppers and guests and reinforcing personal confidence. Now, more than ever, we are feeling the need to express ourselves. To be felt for who we are and who we’ve become over the past couple of years. Bridge Street is the perfect place to answer the question: Who do you want to be?

Each month we are highlighting a local gem of Huntsville who shows what it’s like to BE MORE YOU.

For the month of July we are featuring the powerhouse behind Cummings Research Park, Erin Koshut!

Erin Koshut is the Executive Director of Cummings Research Park (CRP) in Huntsville, Alabama. With more than 320 companies across 3,843 acres that employ 26,500 professionals, and where 13,358 students attend school through graduate school, CRP is the second largest research park in the U.S. and fourth largest in the world.

Erin is responsible for managing and marketing CRP, including recruiting new industry and amenities to the Park, developing a business environment that supports existing industry growth and recruits new industry in the Park. With partners, Erin works to create a vibrant environment where employees can connect, work, live, learn, and play.

Previously, Erin was Vice President for Client Services and Special Events with public strategies firm, CRISP Communications. While at CRISP, she served as the lead strategist and account planner for several of the firm’s national clients. Additionally, she led numerous statewide high-tech issue advocacy campaigns and events.

For 14 years, Erin worked for AkinsCrisp Public Strategies, rising to Vice President for Washington, DC, and Huntsville, AL, Operations. While at AkinsCrisp, Erin led and managed strategic efforts with state and federal government clients, and dozens of companies.

Prior to AkinsCrisp, Erin was an Assistant Publicist with Cumberland House Publishing in Nashville, TN.

Erin currently serves on the board of directors for the Association of University Research Parks (AURP) where she was recently elected as vice president. Within AURP, she serves as the chair of the Communities of Innovation 101 program. Erin and Cummings Research Park played host to the 2017 AURP International Conference. Erin is a member of the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology’s Economic Development Advisory Council and the Mayor of Huntsville’s Mobility Advisory Committee. She serves as treasurer of the PTO for her children’s school, Holy Spirit Regional Catholic School. Erin graduated from Lipscomb University with a degree in Public Relations.

What do you love most about Huntsville and working for the Huntsville Chamber?

I love how our City keeps changing, evolving and yet retains so much of its small town charm and now with big city amenities. It was a great city when we moved here 16 years ago, but it has gotten even better! I am proud to be a small part of the team that continues to make Huntsville and Cummings Research Park the place to be for people and companies to live, work, play and learn like nowhere else in the country.

What makes you, you?

Oh goodness, what a question! If you asked those who know me they would say my family, my get it done attitude whether it’s something big or small, and the ability to have fun and be adventurous. I love being on as much as being off—you—me—has to have both.

How can you help others “Be More You?”

Discover what is most “you” about you and be there. Find joy there. Life is too short to not be full of joyful moments (even and especially, the smallest ones).

How does Bridge Street impact CRP?

Bridge Street was the first commercial area to CRP and is incredibly impactful to the companies and employees in the Park. Bridge Street is a place and space to live, to laugh and to love being with or meeting new people. It is a destination that CRP is proud to have in our Park.

Read Less