TBED People and Organizations

Karl Fooks, a past managing director for J.P. Morgan & Co. in Asia, is the new president of the Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation. Fooks replaces John Chock who retired last year.

The U.S. Senate confirmed by unanimous consent President Barack Obama's nomination of Karen Gordon Mills as the 23rd Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation has named Stephen M. Hourigan executive director of the 21st Century Research and Technology Fund. He also will oversee the state's entrepreneurship efforts. Hourigan replaces Bruce Kidd who resigned in December.

Innovate Texas Foundation was launched to enhance Texas' competitiveness in bringing promising technologies to the marketplace and creating high-value jobs in the state. David Guajardo Nance will become the Foundation's first executive director.

Northern Kentucky University and their alliance partners have formed the Northern Kentucky Entrepreneurial Alliance to promote entrepreneurship in the region.

Bill Taylor, the longtime head of Mercedes-Benz's Alabama operations, will become president of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama in July. Taylor replaces Jim Hayes, who headed the organization in 2002 until his death in June 2008.

Dennis Yablonsky, former secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, was named CEO of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development. Yablonsky succeeds F. Michael Langley as head of the economic development organization.