Kevin Nolan

Kevin is a seasoned engineer and a passionate maker with 29 patent awards and a 30-year career at GE, including 10 years as GE Appliances’ Chief Technology Officer.

He took innovation to a new level when he conceived and co-founded FirstBuild, the first corporate maker’s space in the world and global co-creation community that harnesses the power of the maker movement to change the way home appliances are conceived, designed and manufactured.

Originally from Connecticut, Kevin is an active voice in Louisville, Ky., working directly and through several organizations to attract new businesses to the area; promoting STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) programs in public schools and community centers; mobilizing resources to close the digital and educational gap; personally participating in several community development organizations; and serving as the 2020-2021 Community Investment Chair for the Metro United Way.

His leadership and commitment to community has been broadly recognized, including being named one of the “Most Admired CEOs” in 2019 by Louisville Business First, and in 2020 he was recognized by the publication for exemplary leadership with a focus on employees and community during the COVID-19 response. Kevin was inducted into the University of Connecticut Academy of Distinguished Engineers in 2019, and in 2020 he received the Kentucky Board of Education’s Kelly Award for outstanding business and public education partnership.

Kevin is a frequent speaker at international conferences and business schools, where he shares his thoughts and experiences on his passion areas: lean enterprises, entrepreneurship, innovation and change.