Lydia Perez-Kavanagh

Lydia Perez-Kavanagh is a dedicated Project Coordinator 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.