Cynthia Crutchfield brings bold vision to Chancellor’s Business Breakfast
With a career spanning more than two decades in innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology, Cynthia M. Crutchfield now serves as the chief executive officer of Innovate Alabama, where she is helping to drive forward-thinking initiatives through impactful public-private partnerships across Alabama communities.
Crutchfield will deliver the keynote address at the AUM Chancellor’s Business Breakfast Series on Wednesday, September 17, at 7:30 a.m. in Taylor Center 230 on AUM’s campus.
As the founding CEO of Innovate Alabama — the state’s first statewide public-private partnership focused on entrepreneurship, technology and innovation — Crutchfield oversees corporate strategy and leads day-to-day operations. Her work centers on advancing the corporation’s mission through partnerships, program development, and innovation management.
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Before taking her current role, Crutchfield served as the founder, president, and CEO of Crutchfield Management Consulting, where she set the strategic vision and growth plan for the company. She also served as the chief operating officer of The Crutchfield Company, a real estate investment firm focused on providing affordable housing to college students, veterans, and underprivileged families.
Crutchfield brings more than 40 years of experience in the federal government sector, including 18 years as a civil servant and 22 years as a contractor in private industry. She has managed teams of up to 800 program managers, engineers and IT specialists, delivering services in IT, aircraft maintenance and training, cybersecurity, and national defense intelligence. Her government clients have included:
- Defense Intelligence Agency
- National Security Agency
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory
- U.S. Department of State
- U.S. Army
- U.S. Air Force
As the event’s keynote speaker, Crutchfield will reflect on her career in technology across government agencies and organizations of all sizes. Her leadership experience includes developing and executing strategic plans, managing profit and loss centers, and consistently exceeding revenue and profit growth goals.
Throughout her career Crutchfield has received numerous honors, including the CSC President’s Award for Program Management and the Women of Color Information Technology All-Star Award.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Alabama A&M University, where she graduated cum laude. She is also a graduate of the Leadership Huntsville Flagship Class (L-31) and has completed in-residence professional military education at the Squadron Officer School and the Air Command and Staff College.
Crutchfield lives in Birmingham, Alabama, with her husband of 31 years, Michael Crutchfield. They have one son, Michael II (21). In her free time, she enjoys scrapbooking, real estate investing, and volunteering with her sorority and various community organizations.
About Innovate Alabama
As Alabama’s first statewide public-private partnership focused on entrepreneurship, technology and innovation, Innovate Alabama implements programs and policies that support Alabama’s innovation ecosystem. Through these efforts, Innovate Alabama empowers entrepreneurs, business owners and students to build a business, a career and a life in Alabama. Innovate Alabama is led by CEO Cynthia Crutchfield and a board of 11 innovation leaders appointed by Governor Kay Ivey. Its mission is to help innovators grow roots.
