Sep. 25--DURHAM -- Joan Siefert Rose took over as president of the Council for Entrepreneurial Development in August. Previously, she was the general manager of North Carolina Public Radio-WUNC, a position she had held since 2001 after 15 years in commercial radio and a stint in health care planning and marketing.

Rose took over the CED position after its longtime president, Monica Doss, announced her retirement after 22 years with the organization. Under Doss' leadership, the nonprofit organization founded in 1984 grew into the largest entrepreneurial support organization in the country, with more than 5,000 active members representing more than 1,100 companies.

CED provides networking, capital formation resources to high-growth entrepreneurs through annual conferences and programs.

Rose will speak at Breakfast in the Park today, a monthly breakfast speaker series held at the Brier Creek Country Club from 7:30-9 a.m.

The Herald-Sun checked in with Rose on Wednesday to get her thoughts on the future of CED, the Triangle and the economy.

Q: You've been with CED about a month and a half now as the new president. How has it been different heading up CED as opposed to radio?

A: There's actually a lot of similarities, which is probably the biggest surprise. The difference is the type of work that CED does in terms of connecting entrepreneurs to the resources they need in the region is substantially different from radio programming. But because both were nonprofits, we have the same dynamics. That includes having a very energetic team of volunteers and being mission-driven.

Q: How is the economy impacting the Triangle?

A: Times of upheaval and change often lead to a lot of growth in the entrepreneurial sector. When you think of the companies that have started in RTP, often it's been because of a shake-up in the industry. When Burroughs Wellcome and SmithKline merged, it led to a lot of people leaving the company and starting their own companies. There will be people who've been inside universities and inside large companies who will be able to start their own businesses. ... It was a genesis of entrepreneurial birth.

We've had record enrollment in our FastTrac startup classes. The entrepreneurial spirit is certainly alive and well, even if the economy is uncertain.

Q: The previous president was here for 22 years. ... How do you think the Triangle could change in that time?

A: ... I think it's very unlikely I'll be here for 22 years because I'll be drawing Social Security then. It's a dynamic economy that changes constantly. The people who come out on top will be those who adjust quickly to shifts in the marketplace. What we've seen in recent months is it's very important to pay attention to trends and we're in a global economy. So, flexibility and being clear about what value companies bring to the marketplace, that's going to be key. About the Research Triangle Park, I think we're well-positioned to be winners in the current economic shakeout. We have a lot going for us in quality of life and a highly trained work force. We'll do well, compared to other areas... but that doesn't mean we can rest on our past accomplishments.

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