ATLANTA, GA — On Thursday, March 20, the Cherokee Office of Economic Development (COED) recognized Sara E. Davis, Ph.D. as the third annual recipient of the North Atlanta Venture Mentoring Service (NAV) Mentor of the Year Award.

The NAV program offers team-based mentoring, as principled and trained by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Venture Mentoring Service (VMS). NAV launched in 2019 and has been offering free team-based mentorship to North Atlanta startups since.

To honor the commitment of mentors, COED honors a NAV Mentor of the Year annually. Last year’s recipient was Jim Bulger. This year, NAV ventures nominated Sara Davis as a mentor who has made a significant impact on the success of their personal and professional growth.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy, and their success strengthens the entire community,” said Sara. “I’ve benefited from the incredible mentors throughout my journey, and ‘m honored to pay that forward through NAV. The impact this group has is truly remarkable, and I’m grateful to be part of it.”

With nearly two years of dedicated service across four venture teams, Sara has donated invaluable time and knowledge to the local business community. In addition to her dedication to the NAV program, Sara has engaged with other opportunities for startups including leading a Fresh Start Mornings session, presenting at a NAV venture meetup and facilitating the data collection project for the NAV Program.

“Sara is someone we’ve come to trust completely – listening deeply, giving honest feedback, and always making us feel supported,” said Trefoil Gardens, one of Sara’s venture teams. “More than just believing in what we’re doing, Sara actively helps us find the tools and connections we need to succeed.”

Sara serves as the Director for the Family Enterprise Center at Kennesaw State University (KSU), where her passion for education and commitment to local businesses is apparent. Through this position, she generously connected NAV to more resources and opportunities at KSU.

Sara’s research focuses on family businesses and how their dynamics impact various aspects of decision-making, goal setting and business activities.

NAV is made possible through Cherokee By Choice 2.0 – a five-year results-driven public-private partnership aimed at reinforcing Cherokee’s role as a leader in economic development.

“Building a strong support system is essential for small business owners, yet it remains one of the toughest challenges entrepreneurs encounter,” said Mark Goddard, Chairman of Cherokee By Choice. “That’s why we created NAV—to foster a thriving entrepreneurial culture driven by the dedication, commitment, and expertise of our mentors. We extend our deepest gratitude to Sara Davis and all our mentors for their vital contributions.”

As part of the Fresh Start Cherokee umbrella, NAV aims to support startups that are seeking to scale their business towards success. It is the first entrepreneur mentorship program in Georgia to be principled and trained by MIT VMS and represents the 90th MIT VMS sister program.

While headquartered in Cherokee County, NAV reaches the entire North Atlanta area. Visit northatlantavms.com to learn more and apply to be a mentor.

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About the Cherokee Office of Economic Development
COED is Cherokee’s leading organization for business and film recruitment, and industry retention and expansion. For more information, visit www.cherokeega.org.