Lydia Perez-Kavanagh

Lydia Perez-Kavanagh is a dedicated Manager of the Everyday Entrepreneur Program at the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE), where she leads initiatives that expand entrepreneurial opportunities nationwide. She manages NACCE’s Everyday Entrepreneur Program, overseeing Level 1 and Level 2 implementation, college onboarding, and funder engagement. Over the past year, she helped double enrollment across both levels, now supporting more than 100 colleges in Level 1 and over 17 in Level 2.
Lydia strengthened community-building by hosting interactive monthly consortium calls that foster collaboration and shared best practices. She also launched NACCE’s first National Pitch Showcase, organizing a global virtual pitch opportunity for 2024 Level 2 colleges and coordinating the selection of three entrepreneurs who presented live at the 2025 NACCE Annual Conference, gaining national exposure and new funding.
To enhance program quality, she developed a comprehensive onboarding toolkit and launched the Everyday Entrepreneur TikTok channel to spotlight entrepreneurial stories and expand reach. Lydia has also been a mentor for the Ratcliffe Foundation’s Pitch for the Skilled Trades competition for two years; her 2025 mentee team from Tri-C won the top $60,000 award to launch a mobile food truck.
In addition, Lydia coordinates NACCE’s webinars and masterclasses, serving as a primary liaison to presenters, partners, and participants. She is a valued collaborator across NACCE—supporting SkillPointe initiatives, creating program materials, and contributing wherever needed. Her work reflects a commitment to expanding entrepreneurial pathways, uplifting communities, and empowering the next generation of innovators.