Harris named director of Arizona foundation

Bill Harris, former vice president for research at USC, is the new director of Science Foundation Arizona, a new nonprofit institute.


Harris will try to do for Arizona what he did the past five years as director of Science Foundation Ireland - build new research programs from the ground up.


Harris led Ireland's charge to international prominence in biosciences.


Advanced Automation gets SC Launch! loan


Columbia-based Advanced Automation Consulting has received an $80,000 loan from the SC Launch! program to help with construction of the company's new headquarters.


Advanced Automation, which began in 2003 in the Columbia Technology Incubator, hopes to break ground on the new building on Broad River Road in the next few weeks.


The company, which was graduated from the incubator in 2005, is currently housed at 1136 Washington St. in downtown Columbia. The information technology servicing company employs about 40 workers earning $90,000 a year on average.


SC Launch! is a collaborative program started by the S.C. Research Authority to provide capital to high potential start ups.


Gibson to lead USC University Associates


Well known Carolinas banker Stan F. Gibson has been elected president of the USC University Associates for 2006-07.


University Associates is a town-and-gown organization of Midlands-area business, community and professional leaders committed to supporting and promoting USC.


Gibson is Wachovia commercial banking executive for North Carolina and South Carolina and a former Bank of America president for South Carolina.


Lee Bussell, chairman and chief executive officer of Chernoff Newman, is the president elect.


Other new officers are M. Edward Sellers, chairman and chief executive officer of BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, vice president; and J. Cantey Heath Jr., executive director of advancement administration at USC, secretary-treasurer.