July 30, 2008

Purdue officials announce hiring of center director, start of academic programs at Purdue Technology Center of Southeast Indiana

The Purdue Technology Center is one of four Purdue Research Park centers around the state that serve as incubators for startup or expanding companies. Two other centers in operation are in West Lafayette, Ind., and Merrillville, Ind. A fourth center is under construction at the Purdue Research Park at Ameriplex-Indianapolis.

The Purdue University College of Technology has offered degree programs in New Albany since 1968. Andy Schaffer is the director of the College of Technology at New Albany.

Marshall, a retired executive from 3M Co., will begin his new position on Aug. 1. His responsibilities include recruiting and assisting entrepreneurs and the operation of the facility. During his 30-year tenure with 3M, Marshall managed several positions including lead general attorney for the firm's St. Paul, Minn., office and its Austin, Texas, office, managed the sales and marketing offices in New Zealand and the Republic of South Africa, and served as business development director for 3M. His last position with 3M was strategic intellectual asset management director.

"James brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the Purdue Technology Center of Southeast Indiana," said Joseph B. Hornett, senior vice president, treasurer and COO of the Purdue Research Foundation, which oversees the Purdue Research Park. "He will work directly with entrepreneurs and provide them with the same type of support we offer other startup companies at our West Lafayette and Merrillville sites.

"His hiring is another step in the opening of our incubator site in southeast Indiana. We look forward to becoming an active member in the area's successful economic base."

Marshall received his bachelor's degree from the University of Cincinnati, his juris doctorate degree from the University of Louisville College of Law and his master's degree in business administration from the University of Texas - Austin.

The Purdue Technology Center of Southeast Indiana will be dedicated on Oct. 1. The center, which is located at the southeast corner of Interstate 265 and Charlestown Road, has nearly 40,000 square feet of space. Business incubator offices will occupy 18,000 square feet, and other space will be used for an economic development office and as an office for Purdue's Technical Assistance Program.

The 40 acres of land used for the center was donated to the Purdue Research Foundation by John and Jane Shine. John Shine is the president of Samtec Inc., an electronic interconnect manufacturer, and Sam Shine, John's father, is the founder.

The center also will be used in cooperation with Indiana University Southeast to expand the Purdue College of Technology's academic offerings. The College of Technology at New Albany will use the additional space in the new center for classrooms, labs and faculty offices for its computer graphics technology, electrical engineering technology and mechanical engineering technology programs. Purdue will maintain a presence at Indiana University Southeast in the Hausfeldt building with its industrial technology and organizational leadership and supervision programs.

Last spring, the Paul Ogle Foundation Inc. of Jeffersonville, Ind., donated $1 million to create advanced-technology laboratories for two of the college's programs.

"The center gives us the space we need to expand our academic programs in southeast Indiana and provide our students with the most current technology in our classrooms," said Duane Dunlap, Purdue's associate dean for statewide technology. "Another important offering is that through a reciprocal tuition agreement, residents of Jefferson, Oldham, Bullitt and Trimble counties in Kentucky pay Indiana in-state rates at the college's New Albany location."

Purdue's College of Technology offers bachelor's degrees in computer graphics technology, electrical engineering technology, industrial technology, mechanical engineering technology, and organizational leadership and supervision.

About Purdue Research Park

The 725-acre Purdue Research Park (https://www.purdueresearchpark.com) has the largest university affiliated business incubation complex in the country. The park is home to more than 140 companies. About 90 of these firms are technology-related and another 39 are incubator businesses. The park was ranked No. 1 in 2004 for universitys affiliated research parks and received the 2005 Outstanding Commercialization Award, both from the Association of University Research Parks. The park's companies also have received numerous recognitions, including a 2006 MIRA Award: Innovation of the Year for Purdue Research Park/Quadraspec Inc. and a 2005 CoreNet Global Innovators Award finalist. The Purdue Research Park is part of the Purdue Research Foundation, a private, nonprofit foundation created to assist Purdue University in the area of economic development. In addition to the Purdue Research Park in West Lafayette, the foundation has established or is currently constructing technology parks in other locations around Indiana including Merrillville, New Albany and Indianapolis.

Writers: Cynthia Sequin, (765) 494-4192 (office), casequin@prf.org

Kim Medaris, (765) 494-6998, kmedaris@purdue.edu

Sources:Joseph B. Hornett, (765) 494-6072, jbhornett@prf.org

Duane Dunlap, (765) 496-9468, ddunlap@purdue.edu

Andy Schaffer, (812) 941-2353, aschaffe@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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