Darius Baten

Darius "Keevon" Baten currently serves as the Director of Business Recruitment at the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, where efforts focus on business attraction and regional economic development. Baten is also a 2024 Access Fellow, leading a program dedicated to underrepresented minorities aspiring to pursue MBAs. As the Founder and Executive Director of Elevated Up And Out, Baten empowers underprivileged youth through global service initiatives. Previously, Baten held positions including Chief Operating Officer at Mountain Rides, Small Business Lender at Mountain BizWorks, and Chief Financial Officer at OpenDoors of Asheville. A former Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch and Peace Corps Volunteer, Baten started with a Bachelor's degree in Banking, Corporate, Finance, and Securities Law from Appalachian State University.