Iowa State University
12-20-96

Contacts:
Martin Jischke, President, (515) 294-2042
Russ Cross, Norwest Bank, (515) 268-6820
Skip Derra, News Service, (515) 294-4917

CROSS ELECTED CHAIR OF ISU RESEARCH PARK BOARD

AMES, Iowa -- Russ Cross, president, Norwest Bank, Ames, has been elected chair of the ISU Research Park Board of Directors. In addition to Cross' election, eight new members have been appointed to the board.

New board members include Robert DeWaay, executive vice president, Bankers Trust, Des Moines; Dr. Marvin Johnson, owner and director, Animal Medical Clinic, Des Moines; Kim Russell, president and CEO, Mary Greeley Medical Center, Ames; Carol Bradley, director of governmental relations, ISU; Murray Blackwelder, vice president for external affairs, ISU; Jim Melsa, engineering dean, ISU; Ben Allen, business dean, ISU; and Ellen Rasmussen, assistant provost, ISU. The new appointees' terms are through 1999.

Three members will complete their terms on Dec. 31. They are Betty Baudler, president and general manager, KASI/KCCQ Radio, Ames; Jean Steffenson, Davenport, Iowa; and Connie Wimer, publisher and president, Des Moines Business Record.

"We want to thank these three board members for their many contributions to the ISU Research Park," Cross said. "They played pivotal roles during the Research Park's very formative years.

"We are pleased with the success of the Research Park and the efforts which have brought 30 companies and more than 750 employees into its complex," Cross said. "We expect this success to continue as we finalize plans to begin development of phase two of the Research Park, which includes a new multi-tenant building.

"With the support of the Small Business Development Center and the new Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship, we are looking forward to assisting Iowa State with its technology transfer efforts, which will lead to the creation of many new small businesses at the Research Park," Cross added.

The board also elected its officers. In addition to Cross, board officers are Dan Rupprecht, president, R&R Investors, West Des Moines, elected as vice chair; Warren Madden, vice president for business and finance, ISU, re-elected as treasurer; and Wayne Moore, Ames, re-elected as secretary.

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