SSTI Digest

SSTI is wrapping up the conference brochure for our 11th annual conference, Transforming Regional Economies, a mailing that goes to more than 12,000 TBED practitioners. Your organization could be included if you become a conference partner by August 17. Contact Noelle Sheets, director of membership services, to discuss which partnership opportunity best fits your marketing strategy. SSTI’s annual conference provides the opportunity to place your organization at the center of the most dynamic and influential community of tech-based economic development professionals, reinforce your brand, and build relationships in 2007 and beyond. Your organization will enjoy outstanding exposure. In all the right company.

North Canton, Ohio, has been chosen as the site for the nation's newest Department of Defense (DoD) Center of Excellence. Centers of Excellence deal with specific military technology needs that are deemed critical to the nation's defense and security. The Defense Metals Technology Center (DMTC), to be located at Stark State College, will become the principal repository of data and coordination of the various academic, government and industrial entities involved with highly specialized and strategic metals, including titanium. The result of the vision and creative effort led by Congressman Ralph Regula (R-OH), the DMTC is being funded by the 2006 National Defense Appropriation Bill and the State of Ohio Department of Development. The center's executive director will be Charlie Clark, who previously served as director of government relations for the University of Akron.

Complete descriptions of the position openings described below are available at http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm. The Life Sciences Discovery Fund (LSDF), a Washington State agency that functions like a foundation, is seeking a grants administrator to help shape the organization during its start-up phase. The LSDF supports innovative research in Washington State to promote life sciences competitiveness, enhance economic vitality, and improve health and health care. The grants administrator will manage aspects of a grants portfolio of approximately $35 million per year and will be responsible for information management regarding LSDF’s grant administration processes. He or she also will report to the LSDF Director of Programs. A bachelor’s degree and five years of experience in grant-making or grants administration, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, are required.

David Boncosky will become the director of Indiana Economic Development Corporation's life sciences initiative Aug. 6. Arizona Technology Enterprises, the organization responsible for overseeing licensing and commercialization activities at Arizona State University, has selected Augustine Cheng as its new managing director. Tom Clarkson is the new chief executive officer of Wake Forest University's Babcock Demon incubator. Clarkson replaces Paul Briggs, who retired. The Four-County Economic Development Corp. in Portland, Ore., has changed its name to Greenlight Greater Portland.

David Boncosky will become the director of Indiana Economic Development Corporation's life sciences initiative Aug. 6.

Arizona Technology Enterprises, the organization responsible for overseeing licensing and commercialization activities at Arizona State University, has selected Augustine Cheng as its new managing director.

Tom Clarkson is the new chief executive officer of Wake Forest University's Babcock Demon incubator. Clarkson replaces Paul Briggs, who retired.

The Four-County Economic Development Corp. in Portland, Ore., has changed its name to Greenlight Greater Portland.

Graham Evans has joined Washington Technology Center as director of research and program operations.

The Georgia Department of Economic Development has promoted Carol Henderson to director of its Innovation and Technology Office.

Sen. Patrick Hogan announced he would step down from the Maryland State Senate to become vice chancellor for government relations for the University System of Maryland.

Steve Lehmkuhle was named the first chancellor of the University of Minnesota-Rochester, effective Sept. 7. Lehmkuhle previously was the vice president for academic affairs at the University of Missouri.