7-16-97
Contact:
Ben Allen, Business, (515) 294-2422
Skip Derra, News Service, (515) 294-4917
THREE FINALISTS CHOSEN FOR RESEARCH PARK
POST
AMES, Iowa -- Three finalists have been chosen for the
position of President/CEO of the ISU Research Park. The three
finalists are Glenn Mitchell, a business development
specialist with Westaim Corp., Edmonton, Alberta, Canada;
John Parks, vice president, Dasher Management Corp., Ames;
and David Roederer, coordinator of economic development
activities at ISU and interim director of the ISU Research
Park.
"We are pleased to have three very talented and experienced
business and economic development people interested in taking
the Research Park to the next level," said Ben Allen, chair
of the search committee and dean of ISU's College of
Business. "The president of the Research Park will be working
with creative, high-energy entrepreneurs and providing
leadership in fostering economic development for Iowa."
The candidates will visit Ames and meet with
members of the Research Park Board of Directors, and Research
Park staff and tenants. Mitchell will visit on July 25, Parks
on July 30, and Roederer on Aug. 1.
Glenn Mitchell
Mitchell has experience organizing and leading the Edmonton Research Park
for 10 years until 1993. He has experience in consulting, research park and
technology incubators, capital project financing and construction,
technology transfer, and venture capital and business consulting support to
advanced technology enterprises. He is the past president of the Association
of University Related Research Parks.
Prior to joining Westaim Corp. in 1996, Mitchell was a senior
consultant at Drake Beam Morin-Alberta Inc., Edmonton (1994-
1996), and president and general manager of the Edmonton
Research Park Authority, Edmonton (1983-1993). He earned a
B.Sc. in chemical engineering from the University of Colorado
(1969) and an MBA from the University of Alberta (1982).
John Parks
Parks is vice president of Dasher Management Corp., where he directs 400 employees in seven central Iowa McDonald's restaurants. In this position, he is responsible for operations, site development and construction, marketing, and business planning. In the past 13 years, he has worked on the creation or expansion of numerous companies and has experience in financing, municipal regulations, zoning, business and strategic planning, venture and seed capital, and public- private partnerships.
In addition to his professional work, Parks is active in the Ames community and is a member of the Ames City Council. He also is a member of the State of Iowa Venture Capital Advisory Committee and the Iowa Seed Capital Corporation. Parks earned a B.B.A. degree in finance (1990) and an MBA (1995) from Iowa State University.
David Roederer
Roederer has been interim director of the ISU Research Park since Jan. 1. He also has served as Iowa State's coordinator of economic development activities since 1995. In this position, he has experience working with economic development groups, companies and individuals within the state, matching ISU expertise with needs in Iowa.
Prior to this position, Roederer was chief of staff for Gov. Terry Branstad (1991-1995), campaign manager for Gov. Branstad (1990-1991) and director of the Iowa Department of Commerce (1988-1990). He also serves on the State Workforce Development Board and the Ames Economic Development Commission. He earned a B.A. from the University of Northern Iowa (1973).
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Revised
7/15/97