SSTI Digest

Dr. Dean Chang has joined the Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute as the new director of MTECH Ventures.

George Dycio was hired as an economic development specialist for the Lewiston-Auburn Economic Growth Council.

John Gardner will be vice president for economic development and extension at Washington State University, effective July 1. Gardner has been the vice president for research and economic development at the University of Missouri system.

John Griffin has been named acting director of the Ohio Department of Development's Technology Division.

Gov. Jodi Rell nominated Joan McDonald to succeed James Abromaitis as Connecticut's commissioner of economic and community development. McDonald had been a senior vice president with the New York City Economic Development Corp.

Catalyst Connection has named Petra Mitchell as its new president.

Thom Ruhe is leaving JumpStart Inc., a venture organization in Cleveland, to become director of online initiatives at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

John Schaerer is the new director of technology development and transfer for Chattanooga's Enterprise Center.

President Bush nominated William "Woody" Sutton to replace Albert Frink Jr. as the country's manufacturing czar.

Karl Tueller announced he will step down as executive director of the Idaho Department of Commerce Office of Science and Technology, effective July 1. Tueller also serves as a deputy director for the agency.

Nicole Witherbee has joined the Maine Center of Economic Policy as a federal budget analyst and communications coordinator.

Funding for energy and TBED initiatives were highlighted in the fiscal year 2007-09 biennial budget at the close of the legislative session in Minnesota late last month. Winning nearly unanimous approval from the legislature was Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s Next Generation Initiative announced during his State-of-the-State Address (see the Jan. 15, 2007 issue of the Digest).