Technology Council may have 4 CEOs

BYLINE: Dan Reynolds

Following the departure of the Pittsburgh Technology Council's CEO last month, the organization's board chairman said this week there is nothing broken within the council that needs fixing.

But he said that doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement -- including the possible creation of three new CEO positions.

Tech Council board Chairman John Friel said he and his fellow board members are open to suggestions about how to improve the organization in the wake of CEO Steven Zylstra's resignation.

The CEO of Indianola-based medical device maker Medrad Inc. said those ideas include placing a CEO in charge of each of the South Oakland-based trade group's three affiliated organizations.

"It's a natural opportunity to think about those types of things," Friel said. "This is a perfect chance to go back to that 30,000-foot level."

In addition to his Tech Council post, Zylstra also headed the Catalyst Connection, the Doyle Center for Manufacturing Technology and the Pennsylvania Nanomaterials Commercialization Center. Zylstra said this week he continues to explore new opportunities, but will probably take the summer off to reflect and recharge.

Although Friel said the board will consider carving out four CEO positions, it hasn't yet made any decisions.

He added that it was Zylstra's departure that triggered that conversation, not the other way around, dismissing rumors that the council's desire to break up Zylstra's duties drove Zylstra out.

"Were we heading down any kind of path prior to that? No," Friel said.

Georgia Berner, president of New Castle-based Berner International Corp. and a Tech Council member, said the organization must find a way to give more assistance to its roughly 1,300 members.

Like Friel, she said Zylstra's departure presents a "very positive opportunity for the Tech Council" to improve itself.