Damian Salas

Damian is a corporate innovator. His success in creating a culture of innovation in hyper-growth companies has directly resulted in positive financial and organizational performance. As a leader, Damian solves complex problems by cutting through data clutter, and delivering outstanding results through strategy, innovation, and highly performing, empowered teams.

Damian is a member of the founding team at the Close School of Entrepreneurship at Drexel University. Founded in 2013, the Close School is a corporate startup and the first independent school of entrepreneurship in higher ed in the Nation.  As the Assistant Dean, Damian oversees Undergraduate and Graduate Affairs. In addition, Damian is responsible for corporate partnerships and major revenue programs that directly contributes to funding the operations of the Close School.

Damian is the first faculty appointed to the Close School and taught the first course in the summer of 2013.  In addition, Damian’s mentoring and advising has led to over $20MM in funding of student startups along with careers in Fortune 50 and 100 companies, and small business.

Damian is Founder and Managing Partner of Universal Home Services, an IG company. Universal Home Services is an innovative home inspection service offering an industry-first Post-Listing Home Inspection (patent pending).

Damian led the business development of the Philadelphia Alliance that resulted in the growth ofthe association from $900MM to over $5B. In addition, Damian is the founding Chair of the Philadelphia Alliance Administrative Services Domain. The Domain led the economic strategy for the association including the impact of over 30,000 jobs representative by its members.

As Director, Organizational Development for a Horizon House, Inc., Damian was responsible for the management and leadership development of the organization. A $100MM nonprofit organization, he was a member of the senior leadership team leading the talent management, compensation and benefits, compliance and employee relations strategy for over 1,200 employees. In addition, he led the corporate organizational transformation that resulted in improved service quality and financial performance including a $2 million return on operational efficiency. Damian’s strategic planning seeded a culture of innovation resulting in corporate startup initiatives, organizational effectiveness and 10% YOY revenue growth.

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