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July 14, 2004 Foundation hires 2 to head Purdue Technology Center of NW IndianaWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. and MERRILLVILLE, Ind. – As construction continues on the Purdue Technology Center of Northwest Indiana, the Purdue Research Foundation has put a team in place to lead the high-tech business incubator's day-to-day operations.
Merrillville business owner Robert J. Wichlinski has been named the center's executive director, while Northwest Indiana economic development veteran Kathy DeGuilio-Fox has been appointed as the center's business development manager. Both were selected from among a pool of 100 applicants. Their full-time appointments are effective immediately. Wichlinski, of Porter County, has served as president and chief executive officer of ON-SITE Computer and president of the Center for Innovations LLC. DeGuilio-Fox, of Highland, Ind., has served as president/executive director of Portage-based Partners in Contracting Corp. The Purdue Technology Center of Northwest Indiana is being constructed in Merrillville off of 101st Avenue, east of Broadway Avenue, on 37 acres of a 400-acre parcel owned by the Purdue Research Foundation. The center is scheduled to open in December.
"Although the facility won't be completed until the end of the year, a staff now in place means the Purdue Technology Center of Northwest Indiana is open for business," said Martin C. Jischke, president of Purdue University. "This program would not be starting without Purdue's vision for an idea economy and Congressman Pete Visclosky's unwavering commitment to make that vision a reality." U.S. Rep. Visclosky helped secure $6.9 million in federal funding to support development of the 48,000-square-foot facility, which is modeled after a successful center at the university's 591-acre Purdue Research Park in West Lafayette. Similar to the West Lafayette facility, the northwest Indiana center – Purdue's first off-campus business incubator – is designed to be a stimulant for redirecting regional economic development by nurturing new high-technology businesses. "Once oriented, our team will meet with several of the northwest Indiana entrepreneurs who have inquired about becoming client firms of this high-tech incubator," said Joseph B. Hornett, the foundation's senior vice president and treasurer. The center will provide space, professional counseling/mentoring and other important support services for startup businesses. Within two years, after being prepared to succeed on their own, new businesses will leave the center. "This center will be a driving force in northwest Indiana," Wichlinski said. "Kathy and I are looking forward to beginning the work that will bring good jobs to the region and provide opportunities for the bright, young people in the area to stay here to work, raise families and contribute to our communities." Greg Deason, the foundation's director of park development who will supervise the Merrillville team, said, "As an individual who has started several companies in northwest Indiana, Bob Wichlinski's entrepreneurial spirit is an essential ingredient in Purdue's efforts to assist new, high-tech businesses. Bob's dynamic, action-oriented approach to economic development complements Kathy DeGuilio-Fox's team-building skills. Their combined small business experience is a real boon for our program." Wichlinski is responsible for managing programs, services and facilities of the local technology center. He also will assist the Purdue Research Foundation with land development initiatives in Merrillville. He has served on the Purdue Technology Center of Northwest Indiana advisory board, the Purdue University President's Council and is among the founders of the Purdue Calumet "UfoundIT outreach program of the Department of Computer Information Systems and Information Technology. He also is a former board member of the Indiana Technology Partnership. In her position, DeGuilio-Fox coordinates logistics needed by firms in the incubator facility, including business plan preparation, target market assessment, and validation and valuation of associated technologies. She also assists companies in their search for sources of capital, technical resource acquisition, organizational development, and forecasting and structuring of financial aspects of new business ventures. She has more than 20 years experience in project development, grant writing and fund raising, plus extensive relationships in business, economic development and governmental communities. In heading Partners in Contracting Corp., she helped small businesses secure government contracts and trained clients how to work effectively with government agencies. She also developed marketing strategies to promote services, attracted grants, developed business partnerships, coordinated training seminars, and assisted in economic and job development initiatives. "The shared vision of Congressman Visclosky and Purdue has advanced another step with the hiring of Bob and Kathy," said Howard Cohen, Purdue University Calumet chancellor and Purdue Technology Center of Northwest Indiana advisory board member. "Both are excellently qualified and connected to work with our advisory board in moving this high-tech incubator forward in order to attract the type of vital new businesses that can grow and thrive in northwest Indiana." Wichlinski and DeGuilio-Fox will receive specialized training in helping entrepreneurs develop their concepts into successful businesses from Pittsburgh Gateways Corp., a business acceleration consulting firm that previously has worked with Purdue staff to perfect skills associated with generating new business growth. More specifically, Wichlinski and DeGuilio-Fox will learn about business plan development and test marketing and will receive financial and technical input through the program that is designed to assist high-tech, startup businesses affiliated with the Purdue Research Park, Purdue University and regional technology centers. Pittsburgh Gateways also will work with the incubator's staff and local advisory board to identify promising technology clusters in northwest Indiana and analyze existing technology talent. During the center's start-up phase, a 12-member advisory board will establish operating policies and guidelines for selecting tenants. Purdue's Office of Engagement will serve as the fiscal agent for any federal, state, local or grant funds directed to the center for development and operating costs. The office will hire staff with input from the advisory board and assist personnel in establishing key components and methodology to identify, prepare, develop and incubate technology-based companies. After the first four years of operation, the center's staff will report to the Purdue Calumet campus, and that campus will become the center's fiscal agent. Until the center is completed, Wichlinski and DeGuilio-Fox are working out of a nearby temporary office at 123 W. 86th St. in Merrillville. The foundation also plans to hire two more people to serve as support staff. Wichlinski can be contacted at (219) 746-1472 or via e-mail at rjwichlinski@purdueresearchfoundation.org, and DeGuilio can be reached at (219) 746-1460 or via e-mail at kjdeguilio-fox@purdueresearchfoundation.org. Media Contacts: Jeanine Phipps, media relations, Purdue Research Park, (765) 494-0748, jeanine@purdue.edu Wes Lukoshus, assistant vice chancellor for advancement, Purdue Calumet, (219) 989-2217, lukoshus@calumet.purdue.edu Sources: Joseph Hornett, (765) 494-8645, jbhornett@purdue.edu Howard Cohen, (219) 989-2204, hcohen@calumet.purdue.edu Greg Deason, (765) 494-8572, gwdeason@purdueresearchfoundation.org
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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