Eric Tomlinson, Head of Wake Forest Innovation Quarter, Announces Departure

One of the driving forces behind the Wake Forest Innovation Quarter in Winston-Salem is stepping down.

The project's president, Eric Tomlinson, will also be leaving Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, having served as Chief Innovation Officer.

The decision surprised many when it became public, given that Tomlinson cut the tape on the renovated Bailey Power Plant just last week.

Tomlinson joined Wake Forest Baptist and the Innovation Quarter project in 2012. Since then, he's taken the city's former tobacco district and turned it into a thriving research and business hub. And there's reportedly more to come.

Tomlinson says his dual roles at Wake Baptist and the Innovation Quarter have grown into separate jobs, and he says it's time to move on, and that he's proud of the growth he's seen.

“What I'm most pleased about is the vibrancy and the pride of people who come to Innovation Quarter – workers and people who live there, as well as visitors to our many, many events,” he said.

The Research Park has lured more than a hundred companies and thousands of jobs to the area. Under Tomlinson's watch, the amount of available workspace there doubled.

In a statement, Wake Forest Baptist CEO Julie Freischlag praised Tomlinson's work.

“I want to thank and congratulate Eric for all he and his team have accomplished over the past six years,” Freischlag said. “We wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

Besides the very public-facing projects the Innovation Quarter ushered in, Tomlinson also oversaw an expansion of patents being issued to WFU faculty and staff. He also oversaw new licensing deals and start-up companies associated with the organization.

Eric Tomlinson will step down March 1st, and will coordinate with Wake Baptist leadership to help smooth the transition.

As for what's next, he wouldn't reveal any specifics to WFDD, but says he's been talking to several organizations in planning his next career steps.