Position consolidates three existing deputy secretary positions

Carolyn Boser Newhouse is the new Deputy Secretary of Innovation and Investment at the Department of Community and Economic Development.

As a business owner and entrepreneur, Carolyn Boser Newhouse enjoys new challenges.

That’s why she decided to accept the appointment as Deputy Secretary of Innovation and Investment at the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). Newhouse is stepping down as President and CEO of SuperUser Technologies in Bradford to take the new position, which started January 3. Boser Newhouse was on Team Pennsylvania Foundation’s Board of Directors until her appointment, but has left the board now that she is a state employee.

In announcing the appointment, DCED Secretary C. Alan Walker said Newhouse will lead the commonwealth’s efforts to create family-sustaining jobs through advancing technology and innovation, supporting business growth and bolstering Pennsylvania’s robust tourism industry.

“It’s all about job creation,” Boser Newhouse said about the new position. “Having been a business owner, you realize the struggle and the day-to-day challenges every single business encounters: global competitiveness, infrastructure needs and obtaining skilled employees. Those are all key factors and if we can address these challenges through DCED and help facilitate businesses grow, then we’ll have achieved something significant.”

Secretary Walker said the new position was created through an opportunity to streamline three departments and have this newly created position oversee those departments.

“The Corbett administration is committed to eliminating bureaucratic road blocks by encouraging outside-the-box thinking within state government,” said Walker. “Consolidating three separate ‘silos’ into a single Deputy Secretary position will result in a greater coordination of existing DCED programs to better support economic growth and job creation in the commonwealth.”

The Office of Innovation and Investment (OII) will consolidate the Offices of Business Assistance, Technology Investment and Tourism, Marketing and Film offices, under a single Deputy Secretary, to improve interagency communication and cross-collaboration within the department.

As a single office, the OII will continue to implement DCED’s business financing, grant, loan and tax incentive programs, advance technology-related employment opportunities and technology skills within the commonwealth and promote Pennsylvania’s travel, tourism, and film promotion activities.

Boser Newhouse said she will use her experience as an entrepreneur to accomplish the strategic goals of the administration at the tactical level.
“I come from a family that is very entrepreneur-oriented,” Boser Newhouse said. “Every business has to be innovative in our competitive environment and build a strong team. If I can apply these same principal to realize increased effectiveness, then DCED can help businesses in the commonwealth be more successful.”

Boser Newhouse has over 20 years of private-sector business experience and is recognized by clients and colleagues as a consummate professional with a strong work ethic, a talent for resourceful business solutions and a capacity for motivational leadership and mentoring, according to an announcement issued by DCED.

She is the founder of multiple companies including SuperUser Technologies, Inc., an IT company that provides wired and wireless communications, Newhouse Family Limited Partnership, a partnership for commercial real estate, and Newhouse Enterprise LLC, an entity for retail business. She is co-founder and previous co-owner of SuperUser Solutions, Inc. a successful engineering company that specialized in supply chain automation.

Boser Newhouse earned her undergraduate degree in Computer Science from the University of Pittsburgh and is a graduate of the Entrepreneur Leadership and Advanced Entrepreneur Leadership programs at the University of Buffalo.

“The department will greatly benefit from Carolyn’s experiences in the business world as someone who founded two successful technology consulting companies from start-up to millions in annual sales,” said Walker. “She truly understands what it takes to start a successful business from the ground floor.”

In addition to serving at Team PA, Boser Newhouse is also a board director with the Bradford Economic Development Corporation, a past board member with the Center for eBusiness and Advanced IT (eBizITPA), and a recipient of Pennsylvania’s Best 50 Women in Business award.

She is married to Jim Newhouse and the couple has two children, Garrett and Abbey.