People & TBED Organizations
Steven Zylstra is the new president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council.
People
The New York Biotechnology Association has named Nathan Tinker its executive director, replacing Karin Duncker, who resigned in 2006.
Blueprint Recommends New Approach to Cluster Strategy for Tucson Region
While the Tucson area is growing rapidly, surpassing one million residents last fall, regional economic development officials are concerned about personal income levels keeping pace with the growth. They argue that a highly-skilled and educated workforce within existing and emerging clusters is imperative to raise per capita personal income and to improve the region’s economic growth along with its burgeoning population.
People
Rich Cook has joined the West Michigan Science and Technology Initiative as venture center director.
People
Donna Kent resigned as president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council to accept a position with Televerde, a marketing service solutions provider based in Tempe.
People
Lisa Kuuttila is the first CEO of Michigan State University Technologies, a business organization to train MSU students in the commercialization of science and technology.
People
The Greater Phoenix Economic Council has named Robert Hooley as vice president of emerging technology.
Arizona Approves $35M Tech Fund; Strong Public Support for S&T
Making the single largest TBED related investment in its history, the Arizona legislature approved and Gov. Janet Napolitano signed the state's FY 2006-07 budget, which includes $35 million for the new Arizona 21st Century Competitive Initiative Fund. HB 2477 is the successor in concept to the Innovation Arizona fund proposed by Gov.
People
Science Foundation Arizona, a new nonprofit organization, has named Bill Harris as its director.
People
The Greater Phoenix Economic Council recently hired Jim Hudson as vice president of strategy.
People
Marie Wesselhoft was appointed interim director for the Arizona Center for Innovation, replacing Jim Fountain who is retiring this month.
Michigan's Jobs Fund Commits $200M for Commercialization, VC
Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm has announced the first round of awards from the states new 21st Century Jobs Fund initiative. Totaling more than $100 million, these awards will support applied research and later-stage commercialization of promising new technologies developed at Michigan's public and private research centers.
People
Tino Breithaupt, formerly vice president of Technology Tri-Corridor with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), is the new senior vice president of economic development for the Traverse City Chamber of Commerce. Vince Nystrom has been named Director, Technology Business Development of MEDC.
People & Organizations
Automation Alley, which promotes economic growth in Southeast Michigan, has hired Noel Nevshehir to direct its international business center.
Measuring Creativity in Phoenix
While the Phoenix Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) has the recipe for a creative economy - people in creative occupations, industries with a creative workforce, and an environment that supports creativity - it falls short of the national average in more than 75 percent of all creative occupational categories, a new study by the Maricopa Partnership for Arts and Culture (MPAC) finds.
People
Michael Finney, CEO of Greater Rochester Enterprise, is leaving to become president and CEO of Ann Arbor SPARK.
SSTI Job Corner
For more information on the positions below, visit SSTI's online Job Corner at http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm.
People
Automation Alley has named Thomas Anderson as president of the Automation Alley Education & Research Institute. Mr. Anderson also is director of the consortium's Technology Center.
People
David Hollister announced he will leave his position as director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth on Feb. 3, to head Prima Civitas, a newly formed nonprofit agency promoting economic development.
People
The new head of the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City is Jeffrey Kaczmarek, effective Sept. 6. Kaczmarek currently is senior vice president for community development with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
Tech Talkin' Govs 2006, Part One
Publisher's Note Since 1999, SSTI has reviewed each of the governor's State of the States and inaugural and budget addresses for references involving tech-based economic development. Since 2001, we've provided relevant excerpts as part of the SSTI Weekly Digest. This year's coverage begins with this issue, and as you'll see, it's clear that innovation and workforce are playing a major role in this year's speeches.
People
Donna Kent is the new president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council.
People
The Southern Arizona Tech Council announced it will merge its programs into the recently created Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities Inc., an integration expected to be mostly completed by June 30, 2006.
People
James Epolito, the former president and CEO of Accident Fund Insurance Co. of America, will become president and CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) effective Sept. 1. The current MEDC president and CEO, Donald Jakeway, will lead MEDC's international economic development efforts.
People
President and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council, Todd Bankofier, is resigning his position on Aug. 26 to become vice president and general manager for Ensynch Inc., a Tempe-based information technology services and solutions consulting company.