KU News Release

KU names first director of business relations and development in partnership with Lawrence-Douglas County Bioscience Authority

LAWRENCE - Carey Novak knows he has a big job ahead of him: be the "front door" to the University of Kansas for potential industry partners, while helping faculty explore business opportunities for their research.

While his duties are broad in scope, Novak will be allied with the Lawrence-Douglas County Bioscience Authority to generate local-area industry relationships. The Authority is helping to fund the position as well as travel and marketing expenses.

"KU and the community have common interests when it comes to enhancing research, employment, and local economic development," said LaVerne Epp, president of the Authority board. "This alliance will benefit students and faculty, as well as potential business partners throughout the region. Our support for this KU position is the Authority's first investment and a great opportunity to leverage our funds effectively."

As KU's first director of business relations and development, Novak is equal to the challenge. He's held similar positions at Iowa State University since 1994. Prior to that, he directed two different regional economic development agencies in Iowa, and spent five years as a senior analyst with the Iowa Legislative Fiscal Bureau. He also started a company called Technology Marketing, Inc. in Clinton, Iowa and served as its president for three years.

"Carey knows about universities, businesses, government, and marketing," said Jim Roberts, vice provost for research. "That's a great combination for this new position. This is an exciting new initiative for KU and the local community, one that has the potential to benefit all of Kansas."

Novak starts at KU in early December. He will report to Roberts and work closely with Jim Baxendale, director of intellectual property and technology transfer, and Beth Johnson, vice president for economic development with the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce.

Novak comes to KU from the Institute for Physical Research and Technology at Iowa State. There he initiated and managed projects involving Iowa companies throughout the state. Each project involved a company working with Iowa State researchers, with a focus on technical problem solving, new product development, and technology-based start-up companies.

At Iowa State, Novak has worked with large corporations, such as John Deere and Rockwell Collins, as well as a wide range of smaller companies in urban and rural areas.

"I'm looking forward to coming to Kansas," said Novak, "and I'm confident this new collaboration will be successful. KU and Lawrence have many assets and many strengths, but it all begins with faculty research. My goal is to help welcome businesses to campus and make it easier for them to connect with all we have to offer here."

Novak acknowledges that universities and companies sometimes find it difficult to work together. "That's part of the challenge," he says, "but we've done it at Iowa State and I sense a changing attitude at KU about its role in economic development. This is a good time for all of us to sit at one table and figure out how we can help each other solve our problems."

Novak is a native of Fairview Heights, Illinois. His background includes a B.S. degree in economics and an M.S. degree in urban affairs and policy analysis, both from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.

-30-

The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.