David N. Allen, PhD, Vice President, Tech Launch Arizona

Dr. David N. Allen began his leadership of Tech Launch Arizona in September 2012. He has over 30 years of experience in technology commercialization related research, instruction and practice. Before coming to the UA, Allen was the University of Colorado Associate Vice President (AVP) for Technology Transfer from February 2002 through August 2012. During that time, he led a successful effort to transform an underperforming technology transfer operation into a nationally prominent program. Allen has served in positions at a number of other universities, including: AVP for Technology Partnerships at Ohio State University; AVP for Technology and Economic Development, and Director of the Edison Biotechnology Institute at Ohio University in Athens; and professor at Pennsylvania State University, University Park, teaching management and entrepreneurship classes and conducting research in business incubators and university research commercialization. He was also a consultant to a regional seed venture capital firm and principal in a technology enterprise consulting firm. He earned his PhD in 1980 from Indiana University, Bloomington in Political Science, with a specialization in Political Economy. His PhD chairperson, the late Elinor Ostrom, was a co-recipient of the 2010 Nobel Prize for Economics.

Kevin T. Byrne, MBA, AURP President; President, The University Financing Foundation, Inc.

Kevin Byrne spent his early career at Arthur Andersen with a primary focus in the real estate and financial services industries. In 1997, Byrne founded Byrne & Associates, which focused on providing investment-banking services to small and middle market companies. After earning his Master of Business Administration with honors from the Wharton School of Business in 2001, Byrne joined a real estate development firm as the chief financial officer, managing a balance sheet of over $200 million and leading new transactions of over $150 million in just two years. Byrne joined The University Financing Foundation (TUFF) in 2003 and has managed all aspects of the firm including its new investments in education and research projects, which total over $800 million. Byrne oversees the operations of the firm and, through Byrne’s leadership, the firm is involved in all aspects of research park creation and ongoing operations including the development of facilities. He has crafted full-scale park business plans, assisted in the strategic and master planning of research parks and has helped several global parks with the creation of innovative investment structures that enable parks to maximize the efficiency of their limited resources. Byrne is an honors graduate from Furman University, and currently serves as the immediate past president of the Association of University Research Parks Board of Directors.

Stephen Frayser, MBA, Executive Director, STAR Park, Texas State University

Steve Frayser brings over three decades of experience in economic development, research park management and successful efforts to spur the innovation economy. He served as one of the principal staff directing efforts to create the original University of Nebraska Technology Park in 1996 and eventually became its President in 2003. Over the next nine years, the Park added over 2,400 jobs, 300,000 square feet of laboratory, engineering and office space and $68 million in private sector investment. In conjunction with tenant companies a $1.5 million need-based scholarship endowment was created and 30 acres set aside for students to employ sustainability practices through experiential learning. In November 2012, Frayser became the first Executive Director of Texas State University’s Science Technology Advanced Research (STAR) Park and new technology incubator/collaborative facility.  Texas State, with a San Marcos campus enrollment of approximately 35,000 and designation as a Texas Emerging Research University, is a federally recognized Hispanic Serving Institution and has unique strengths in materials, semiconductors, polymers and advanced nanomaterials. The first phase of the incubator is essentially full and active plans are underway to construct additional space. Frayser earned his Master of Business Administration from the University of Nebraska – Omaha, served as a Public Service Fellow while working on his Masters in Public Administration and earned his Bachelor degree in Political Science/Public Administration from Colorado State University. He is active in the Association of University Research Parks, Texas Association of Research Parks and Incubators, as well as the Federal Advocacy and Technology Councils of the Austin Chamber of Commerce.

Molly Gilbert, MBA, Director of University and Community Engagement, University of Arizona Science and Technology Park

Molly Gilbert is a member of the management team for the University of Arizona Office of University Research Parks and leads the Community Engagement team. She is one of the founders of the Arizona Center for Innovation, a business incubator located at the UA Tech Park. Her areas of responsibility include managing tenant and employee relations, public and media relations, neighborhood and community relations, educational outreach and fundraising. She is a member of the Vail Community Action Board, the Association of University Research Parks, the Bioscience Leadership Council of Southern Arizona (BLCSA) and the National Business Incubation Association. She is a founding member of the Arizona Business Incubator Network. She holds an MBA with an emphasis in entrepreneurship and marketing. 

Kenneth M. Marcus, MBA, Director, University of Arizona Science and Technology Park; Chief Financial Officer, Campus Research Corporation

Ken Marcus began his career with the University of Arizona Science and Technology Park (UA Tech Park) in 1999 as Controller, where he quickly placed controls, procedures and budget systems in place to provide accurate management reports to the Campus Research Corporation (CRC) Board of Directors. He was quickly promoted to his current position as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Director of the UA Tech Park. Marcus is directly responsible for the finances and operations of the UA Tech Park and UA Bio Park, which includes lease negotiations, compliance, maintenance, building renewal, construction and food operations. He sits on the Arizona Center for Innovation advisory board, a technology incubator where he provides finance and client facility support. Marcus developed a site-wide data, cable and telecom system, a large municipal water system and electrical infrastructure system, as well as developed and implemented cafeteria improvements, life and safety improvements, and construction of the Vail Academy and High School, Julian Wash Greenway, 222-acre Solar Zone and adjacent public roadway improvements. Most of these projects required Marcus to develop close government, industry and community partnerships. Marcus is an active member, serving on the Board of Directors and Officers of several professional, community and government organizations such as the Nogales Community Development Corporation, Institute of Management Accountants, Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Greater Tucson, Pima County Board of Adjustments and two home owner associations.

Eileen Walker, MIM/MBA, Chief Executive Officer, Association of University Research Parks (AURP)

Eileen Walker is the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of University Research Parks (AURP), which fosters innovation, commercialization and economic growth in a global economy through university, industry and government partnerships. The organization is comprised of university research, science and tech parks from all around the world. Walker regularly consults with universities and their research parks regarding best practices. Recently, Walker was tapped by the United States Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board to serve as a Fulbright Specialist, to advise universities across the world on their university research park planning. Her initial assignment was with the Universidad de Antonio Narino in Bogota, on the planning for their new research park in Usme, Colombia. Walker directed the Arizona State University Research Park in Tempe, Arizona, a university research park comprised of over 2 million square feet of developed space for many years, and has served as a member of the Board of Directors of AURP, as an executive officer of the Arizona Bioindustry Association, and on the Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity Tucson. She is a graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder, and holds a Master of International Management/Master of Business Administration degree from the American Graduate School of International Management. Additionally, Walker was designated a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) of the National Real Estate Institute in 2002.

Bruce A. Wright, Associate Vice President, Tech Parks Arizona

Bruce Wright is responsible for directing the University of Arizona’s research parks, which includes the University of Arizona Science and Technology Park (UA Tech Park), the Arizona Bioscience Park (UA Bio Park) and the Arizona Center for Innovation (AzCI). Wright has served in several different capacities during his 20 plus years at the University of Arizona, including director of the Office of Community and Public Service, Assistant to the President, Senior Officer for Community Affairs and Economic Development, and Associate Vice President for Economic Development. Wright’s research interests include regional economic development, international trade and business development, and technology development and commercialization. He serves as an adjunct instructor in the Department of Geography and Regional Development. Wright is active in several community organizations including the Arizona Mexico Commission, Governor’s CANAMEX Corridor Task Force, Critical Paths Institute National Advisory Board, Southern Arizona Leadership Council, DM 50, and Bioscience Leadership Council of Southern Arizona.