Monique Adams has worked diligently for the past eight years to make Hampton Roads a better place for entrepreneurs to do business.

Adams, executive director of 757 Angels, an investment group that helps its members find opportunities that can lead to job growth in Hampton Roads, and managing director of 757 Collab, a founder-focused organization, will step down from her roles this summer.

“It’s bittersweet in a number of ways,” Adams said. “I will miss the adrenaline and rush of building something so great.”

Paul Nolde, executive managing director of Lighthouse Labs in Richmond, will take over as managing director of both organizations on May 30.

“Paul brings a wealth of investment experience in startups as well as accelerator and founder engagement from across the state and region,” Adams said.

Nolde, a University of Virginia alumnus with a career journey focused on finance, has been with the startup accelerator for a year and said he brings an intimate knowledge of the Interstate 64 corridor from Charlottesville to Hampton Roads.

“Our organizations will benefit from strengthening ties to other like-minded people looking for the best ideas and investment opportunities,” Adams said.

The 757 region has many of the strongest assets and attributes indicative of a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem, Nolde said.

“757 Collab and 757 Angels represent a common brand and front door for stakeholders in this ecosystem, as well as a unique embodiment of regional collaboration that can amplify the broader RVA757 Connects megaregion effort,” he said.

He also said the mission ahead includes increasing the density of founders and startups in the region and helping drive their ultimate success and enterprise value.

While Adams, one of 757 Angels’ founders, is confident of the change in leadership and a community that is filled with people who want to pay it forward, she stressed that the startup community needs new and expanding help to continue on.

“Founders are facing a constrained capital market and our economy hinges on more jobs being created by small businesses,” she said.

Adams said she is proud to have played a part in changing the region’s narrative to one where companies can find capital resources and connections to grow their businesses.

“To reach the success we have had has certainly taken incredible efforts by our members, community partners, 757 Collab team and brave founders willing to take a chance on themselves,” she said.

Learning that success is a team effort, Adams said she “has stood on the shoulders of giants” and been inspired by her mentors’ selfless volunteer commitments, both in time and money.

Unsure of her next career move, Adams said she is hyper-focused on finishing strong to leave her successor in the best position and will stay engaged with the organizations whenever she is called upon.

Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, sandra.pennecke@insidebiz.com