7-20-00

Contacts:
John Parks, Research Park, (515) 233-4399
John McCarroll, University Relations, (515) 294-6136

ISU'S PARKS TO LEAD UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS RESEARCH PARK

AMES, Iowa -- John Parks, president and chief executive officer of the Iowa State University Research Park, has been named director of the research park at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The appointment is effective Sept. 16.

Parks was appointed president of the ISU Research Park in August 1997. Prior to that, he was vice president of Dasher Management Corp., Ames, and a member of the Ames City Council.

There are more than 30 businesses located in the research park's 43-acre Phase I development. The 79-acre Phase II development is under construction. During Parks' tenure, the infrastructure was completed in the Phase II land development and a third multi-tenant facility was built. The new facility adds 50,000 sq. ft. of multi-tenant space. Twenty-five new tenant companies and research park affiliates have signed on during Parks' tenure.

"Under John's leadership, the Research Park has recorded impressive growth. In addition, he has strengthened the important relationships between the park and Iowa State, the community and the state of Iowa," said Kim Russel, chair of the Board of Directors of the Iowa State University Research Park, and president of Mary Greeley Medical Center.

Russel said the board of directors will announce an interim ISU Research Park president soon.

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