Sean is the Interim Executive Director of the Apex Center for Entrepreneurs.  Previously, he served as the Managing Director of the Startup Hokies program portfolio at the Apex Center. An ardent supporter of free markets and someone fascinated by the power of innovation & entrepreneurship to disrupt industries, Mr. Collins has a passion for building products, teams and companies.  In his role as Managing Director for Startup Hokies, he oversees the design, implementation and content of new venture programs in support of the most promising student-led startups at Virginia Tech. 

Prior to joining Virginia Tech, Mr. Collins was Vice President of Product Development at Viqtory, a privately-held talent management and workforce development company in Pittsburgh, PA. While at Viqtory, he pioneered the development of digital solutions to help individuals from renewable talent sources, including the military, high schools, vocational programs, and universities, make decisions about the next steps in their professional lives, and marketplaces for educators and employers to connect with these talented candidates.  Additionally, Mr. Collins is active with several venture funds and has taught a wide breadth of entrepreneurship courses to students ranging from corporate executives to undergraduates.

A nationally recognized thought leader on renewable labor markets, Mr. Collins’ work has been cited in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Fortune Magazine, CNBC, USA Today, NBC.com, Entrepreneur, the New York Post and various third-party media outlets.

Mr. Collins holds a bachelor’s degree (B.A.) in Economics from the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA. He also received a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) from Virginia Tech. Additionally, Mr. Collins served as a pilot, Naval Aviator, in the U.S. Navy from 2001-2009. A veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and various worldwide campaigns, he accumulated over 1,000 hours of fixed-wing flight time. He and his family are avid outdoor enthusiasts and when Sean is not working with technology startups he is likely running, cycling, climbing or traveling in their teardrop camper.