SSTI Digest

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.

John Mengacci, CEO of Connecticut Innovations, announced his resignation.

Connecticut Innovations has named John Mengacci interim president while it conducts a broad search to fill the position permanently.

Frank Dinucci announced he will step down in April 2007 as president of Connecticut Innovations.

Peter Scott was named the director of Kettering University's new Fuel Cell and Advanced Technology Incubator.

The Maryland Technology Development Corp. has appointed Renée Winsky as its new executive director.

This is the fourth installment of SSTI’s look at the Inaugural, Budget and State of the State Addresses delivered in the past week. Earlier installments, published Jan. 29, Jan. 15 and Jan. 8, are available through: http://www.ssti.org/Digest/2007/headlines07.htm   Selected excerpts of the most recent batch of speeches are provided below:   Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell, Budget Address, Feb. 7, 2007 “I am also bringing vitality to our state’s job picture and economy throughout my budget ... in expanding the state’s job creation tax credit to entice more new development, in increasing support for small business innovation research, in assisting the CT Center for Advanced Technology with subsidies to develop a fuel cell cluster.”   Iowa Gov. Chet Culver, Budget Address, Jan. 30, 2007 “It's time for Iowa to become the Silicon Valley of the Midwest. ... To meet the energy challenge I am proposing the creation of a $100 million Iowa Power Fund, with a down payment of $25 million this year. This priority is of such critical importance, I am asking you to authorize a…

Complete descriptions of the position openings described below are available at http://www.ssti.org/posting.htm. The Connecticut Economic Resource Center (CERC), a nonprofit corporation that serves to promote Connecticut as a prime business location, is seeking a president and chief executive officer. Reporting to and working with the board of directors, CERC’s president and CEO develops a focused strategy consistent with the mission to enhance Connecticut’s economic growth. This strategy encourages and facilitates quality national and international businesses to locate, remain and expand in the state. A master’s degree in political science, economics, marketing or another related field is preferred. New Economy Strategies LLC (NES), a national and ever-increasingly international technology-focused economic development consultancy, is looking for a professional to join its rapidly growing practice as chief project manager and senior consultant. This position reports directly to the CEO and works cooperatively with the chief operations officer. The position requires a master's degree in economics, business, urban affairs or a…

Connecticut Innovations has selected Frank Dinucci to fill the position of president and executive director, which was vacated by Chandler Howard.

Maneesh Sagar has been named director of investments at Connecticut Innovations.

John Hanson has joined the staff of the University of Connecticut Office of Technology Commercialization to serve as director for the new Tech-Knowledge Portal.

Connecticut Innovations has named Kevin Crowley as its director of investments.