TBED People and Organizations

President Obama nominated Francis Collins, a physician and scientist who helped guide the Human Genome Project to completion, as the next director of the National Institutes of Health.

Stephen Fleming has been named vice provost of Georgia Tech's Enterprise Innovation Institute. Since 2005, Fleming has served as chief commercialization officer and led the Enterprise Innovation Institute's Commercialization Services Division. Fleming succeeds Wayne Hodges, who retired recently after a 40-year career at Georgia Tech.

Larry Irving will step down as co-chairman of the Internet Innovation Alliance in September. Irving will join Hewlett Packard, the world's leading technology company, as vice president of Global Government Affairs.

The Oregon Legislature approved legislation renaming and refocusing the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department. When Governor Kulongoski signs the bill, the department will be renamed the Oregon Business Development Department and will do business under the name Business Oregon.

Sandra Watson has been promoted to assistant deputy director, Innovation & Global Business Development within the Arizona Department of Commerce.

Russ Yelton stepped down as executive director of the business incubator at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College on July 22. Yelton will head up a partnership between Northern Arizona University and the city of Flagstaff that will foster an emerging technology program and the creation of several business incubators in the community.