What we're all about.

Sync Space leads a vision of building an ecosystem for the region and has developed a pipeline of resources for local and national entrepreneurs who are considering East Tennessee for the first time.

We champion all entrepreneurs through leadership, programs, resources and connections.

Measuring Our Impact

Sync Space Impact Report for 2022

Nothing can stop a region whose time has come.

Read the report here

Our Team

Our Board of Directors

Pat Shull (Chairman)

Kingsport Mayor

Richard Venable

Mayor Sullivan County

John Campbell

Exec Director Accel Now

Morris Baker

President and Chief Energy Officer of Goodwill Regional HQ

Dr. Todd Fowler

Vice Mayor Johnson City

Dwight King

Sullivan County Commissioner

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About

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Connect

info@syncspace.org

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Our Locations

Kingsport Entrepreneur Center

227 E Sullivan St, Kingsport, TN 37660

Create Appalachia Digital Media Centers

225 W. Center St., Suite 115, Kingsport, TN 37660

207 N. Boone St., Suite 300, Johnson City, TN 37604

Sync Space Entrepreneur Center, a Tennessee 501(c)3 | © 2016 – 2023, All Rights Reserved

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Heath Guinn

President

Heath Guinn is an entrepreneur and community leader based in Kingsport, Tennessee. Over the last 20 years, Guinn has started multiple companies and continues to own four unique businesses, all located in Northeast Tennessee.

Additionally, Guinn is a key member of the entrepreneur community of Northeast Tennessee, and a leading voice for small business in the strategic visioning and planning taking place in the region. In early 2016, Guinn realized the potential and timing in the market was ripe to build a strong ecosystem for entrepreneurs as a leading component for economic development. With a vision of Northeast Tennessee becoming the “Epicenter of Rural Health Innovation” among other potential focuses, Guinn began connecting regional partners with mature communities and institutions in Tennessee and around the nation, leading to the development of recruitment pipelines for the best and brightest startups to participate in this regional vision.

In between businesses and community involvement, Guinn enjoys international traveling, scuba diving, snowboarding and more. 

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Ryan Shipley

Director of Special Projects

Ryan Shipley has joined the Sync Space team as Director of Special Projects. With nearly a decade of experience within the creative services industry, Ryan brings unique insight to each individual project. He has the ability to quickly adapt to a variety of situations and can easily connect the dots across industries. With these skills, he brings efficiency to strategic planning and project management applied to entrepreneurs, startups, and large corporations.

Ryan has led multiple successful projects in a variety of industries ranging from technology, entertainment, marketing, video production, corrections, and gaming. Notable clients include Netflix, Activision, Barstool Sports, and the American Cancer Society.

Throughout Ryan’s career he has been recognized for outstanding work within these fields by receiving multiple ADDY Awards in Northeast Tennessee. One of his most recent achievements includes becoming a 40 Under 40 Honoree, a recognition rightfully earned by his tireless and dedicated work resulting in exceptional impact in this region and across the nation.

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Samantha Culbertson

Director of Marketing

With a decade of industry experience and a lifetime of daydreaming and doodling, I use my empathetic nature and acute listening skills to connect on an emotional yet goal-oriented level, and craft designs that do the same.

I have worked with clients ranging from local start-ups to international companies and have loved every minute of it. Whether it be through logos, landing pages, social graphics, flyers, or something totally new, I enjoy partnering with my clients to achieve something great.

My time with Sync Space includes building out campaigns to spread our message loud and clear, while designing the graphics to make sure it’s professional and engaging.  

I enjoy hiking, paddle boarding, movies, and video games, and I have an adorable yet sassy corgi named Maple that I would do anything for. She’s my fluffy chunk of joy.

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Jessica Smith

Director of Operations

Jessica started her career immediately after high school in the administrative field. She quickly grew to love helping people accomplish their goals and realized administration is where she wanted to be and now has over 10 years of experience in that field.

Her background includes working for a Sales Director for the Tennessee Vacation Guide magazine by creating and managing proposals and contracts for over 100 clients valued at over $1Million in revenue to working at Eastman Chemical Company for over 7 years in different groups such as one of their sales groups and also in Eastman’s Public Affairs group. During her time at Eastman she was responsible for managing and updating their Business Marketing Assignment System used for product sales in SAP for a global sales group. She was also the gatekeeper and organizer for multiple Director’s calendars and inboxes during her time there. She is well versed in problem solving and remains calm under pressure.

Throughout Jessica’s career, she has served in leadership roles such as the Safety Coordinator for Eastman’s Corporate campus and was also the President of an Eastman Resource Group called eXSEED for all of Eastman’s US administrative support employees.

In her spare time she loves to find new recipes to try out on her family and friends and also enjoys driving up to the beauty spot on Roan Mountain to watch the sunset.

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Lexi Vance

Event Coordinator

Lexi Vance has been a member of the Sync Space team since 2021. Her experience in government, event planning, and economic development has served as a toolbox she utilizes for the team and her community. While continuing her education, she is eager to support and power her region onto bigger and brighter things.

Lexi is a member of the Roan Scholars Leadership Program at East Tennessee State University and is a leader on her campus. As she holds a multitude of leadership roles in student organizations, she seeks to build a bridge between the world of higher education and the entrepreneurs who are pillars of the local economy.

She plans to grow her career alongside her community here in North East Tennessee. 

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Pate Anglin

Program Coordinator

Pate Anglin is from Johnson City, Tennessee. He is a student in the Roan Scholars Leadership Program at ETSU and is currently majoring in Finance. Pate has experience in social media managing and marketing. He has also created logo animations and Facebook page cover videos.

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info@syncspace.org

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Our Locations

Kingsport Entrepreneur Center

227 E Sullivan St, Kingsport, TN 37660

 

Inventor Center

118 Shelby St, Kingsport, TN 37660

 

Create Appalachia Digital Media Centers

225 W. Center St., Suite 115, Kingsport, TN 37660

207 N. Boone St., Suite 300, Johnson City, TN 37604

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