Tri-Cities Tech Business Update

July 2008 Issue

News

DeVry University to use Kennewick firm's Smarthome programs

The Atlanta and Orlando campuses of DeVry University recently purchased the complete Marcraft-brand Digital Home Technology Integrator Programs from Kennewick-based Educational Technologies Group, Inc. The Smarthome program will be offered as part of the DeVry University Electronics and Computer Technology degree program. Smarthome trains students to install and integrate a home's subsystems, such as home theater, lighting, and security, to be controlled from a single location via computer or remotely using wireless technology. After rolling out Smarthome on its Atlanta and Orlando campuses, DeVry University expects to expand the program to other locations. DeVry has nearly 100 locations in 30 states and Canada. Contact Kevin Smith at (509) 374-1951.

*Advanced Medical Isotope Corporation and Battelle tackling cancer treatment

Advanced Medical Isotope Corporation (Pink Sheets:ADMD) is teaming with others to further develop its proprietary prostate cancer treatment. Battelle, which operates the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Wash., and the Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of Utah are both working with AMIC to develop a proprietary technology for controlled delivery of yttrium-90 microspheres embedded in resorbable seed-shape materials for tissue-directed, high-dose intra-tumor therapy. The controlled delivery method is expected to help minimize the radiation dose to nearby normal tissues and may significantly lower costs compared to existing alternatives. In related news, James C. Katzaroff, current president of Advanced Medical Isotope Corporation, recently became the company's chief executive officer, with former CEO William Stokes assuming the role of president. The change reflects the company's plan for company growth. Contact Jim Katzaroff at (509) 736-4000.

Businesses avoid data disasters with new offering

 

A new product is helping small and mid-sized businesses avoid disasters and recover from those that do occur. Parsec Computer Corp., with an office in Richland, Wash., launched its Disaster Avoidance and Recovery program in May. Customers can either buy an emergency backup server located at one of Parsec's facilities in Richland or Yakima, Wash., or purchase a monthly subscription to virtual space on one of Parsec's emergency backup servers. The new offering is part of Parsec's suite of business continuity products and services, including real-time monitoring, managed server updates, software asset management, and more. Parsec, which began in 1982, has four employees in Richland and 15 in Yakima. Contact Byron Martin at (509) 735-2609 ext. 201.

*PNNL wins national cancer study project

 

Mammography and biopsies help find breast cancer, but even biopsies won't tell the doctor if the cancer will spread. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is one of two partners that were awarded a $2 million project from the Department of Defense to find proteins that indicate aggressive breast cancer and that can be detected by a simple blood test. The project takes advantage of advanced proteomics technology at PNNL. Instruments from the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a Department of Energy user facility at PNNL, will be used to identify proteins and analyze patient samples. The other partner is Walter Reed-Windber Clinical Breast Care Project in Washington, D.C. and in Windber, Penn. More information. Contact Mary Beckman at (509) 375-3688.

*InnovaTek CEO appointed to National Hydrogen Association Board

 

Patricia Irving, Chief Executive Officer of InnovaTek, Inc., was elected to the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the National Hydrogen Association. Earlier this year, Irving was appointed to the Board as the Small Business Representative by Chairman Phillip Baxley of Shell Hydrogen, LLC. The National Hydrogen Association is led by more than 100 companies dedicated to supporting the transition to hydrogen as a clean, sustainable universal fuel. InnovaTek, Inc. of Richland, Wash., is developing portable fuel processing technology and advanced catalysts for hydrogen production from petroleum and renewable fuels. Contact Patricia Irving at (509) 375-1093, ext. 222.

Gen-X CEO joins national Biodiesel Governing Board

 

Scott Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Gen-X Energy Group, has been appointed to the National Biodiesel Board. Johnson has had extensive experience in the food-processing industry in capacities ranging from operations to quality assurance. Gen-X is a multi-feedstock producer based in Burbank, Wash. The National Biodiesel Board is a national trade association representing the biodiesel industry. Contact Scott Johnson at (509) 547-2447.

*PNNL earns top 100 honor from CIO magazine

CIO magazine has named Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to its 2008 list of the top 100 organizations worldwide that "... exemplify the highest level of operational and strategic excellence in information technology." PNNL is the first national laboratory to receive CIO 100 honors in the competition's 21-year history. The laboratory earned CIO 100 status for its campus camera and emergency call station system. The system, designed to detect and prevent unauthorized activities on the PNNL campus, consists of 81 cameras and 14 emergency call stations on a wireless mesh network. Contact Judy Graybeal at (509) 375-4351.

 

Tri-Cities Research District

Research District takes its show on the road

In June, the Tri-Cities Research District was well-represented at the Bio International Convention in San Diego, one of the world's largest annual biotechnology events. On hand to tout the benefits of the Research District and recruit new tenant companies were representatives from the Port of Benton; Tri-City Development Council; Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; Washington State Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development; and Washington Biotechnology and Biomedical Association. Companies at the convention were impressed with the Research District's high-quality workforce, the national laboratory that also does private-sector work and provides technology assistance, the research university, and the way the area's economic development partners work closely to leverage these assets. The partners are following up on a number of company leads generated at the convention.

WSU asks architect to consider new buildings

 

Washington State University Tri-Cities is increasing its involvement in the Research District planning process. WSU has contracted with TVA, the architect for the master plan for part of the Research District, to consider whether new facilities could be located either on the WSU Tri-Cities campus or elsewhere in the Research District. Facilities under consideration include an amphitheater, a community center, a student union building, and student apartments.

PNNL aligning campus development with Research District

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is contracting with Flad Architects, of Madison, Wis., to refine PNNL's existing 20-year campus master plan, which helps guide the Laboratory's future facility growth. As part of this process, staff will ensure that the Laboratory plan for its Richland, Wash. campus is aligned with and will complement the Research District's plan.

Online now

Two new resources are online now. A news article about the Tri-Cities Research District, which appeared in the Tri-City Herald in June, is available on the web. The Innovation Partnership Zones of Washington state, including the Tri-Cities Research District, now have an online portal.

Opportunities and Tools

Smartmap Expo: Exhibitors invited

Exhibitors are being sought for TRIDEC's 6^th Annual SmartMap Expo, billed as the premier manufacturing networking event in the Pacific Northwest. It will be held September 30 through October 2, 2008 at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick, Wash. The exhibitor registration fee for two badges is $300, which includes a booth, various events and seminars, and the TRIDEC Manufacturing Appreciation Luncheon. Exhibitor space is limited and fills up quickly. Download an exhibitor registration form. Contact Gary A. White at (509) 735-1000.

Coming Up

Summer seminars for small businesses

The Columbia Basin College Institute for Professional Development offers the following workshop this summer from 6 to 9 pm. Fees range from $25 to $114 per class. Classes are held at the Small Business Development Center and the Columbia Basin Access Center (CBAC) at 1620 North 20^th Avenue in Pasco, Wash. To register, or to learn about these and other courses in the series, contact Donna Campbell at  or (509) 542-4806. More information.

June 16 - August 4 - Command Spanish-Banking Spanish (CBAC- 124)

Coaching for managers

JULY 10, REGISTER BY JULY 8. An workshop on how managers can better coach their employees is being offered by Affluence Business Solutions, Inc. and La Voz Hispanic Newspaper on July 10 at the Clover Island Inn in Kennewick from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm with a lunch immediately following. The workshop will train owners and managers to effectively coach people in their areas of responsibilities so that they produce the intended results. The cost is $59 for two people from the same business. To register by July 8, or for more information, contact Roger Sargent at (509) 366-2953.

*How healthy is your business?

 

JULY 17. The Entrepreneurs' Food for Thought series presents a free noon seminar, "Checking Your Business's Vital Signs," on July 17. Bruce Davis, MBA and Certified Business Advisor with the Small Business Development Center in Pasco, will lead a hands-on workshop on how to calculate and understand the key indicators in a health report card for small business. He'll review profitability, ability to pay current expenses, gross margin, breakeven point, and more. The seminar is July 17, noon to 1 pm at the Applied Process Engineering Laboratory conference room, 350 Hills Street, Richland, Wash. Attendees are invited to bring their own lunch and a calculator. Seating is limited; register by contacting Suzanne Mitchell at (509) 372-5146.

TRIDEC luncheon features former Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas

 

JULY 18. REGISTER BY JULY 1. The Tri-City Development Council (TRIDEC) will hold a luncheon at the Holiday Inn Express from 11:30 am to 1 pm on Friday, July 18. The guest speaker is former Republican Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas. After serving 24 years in the U.S. Congress, Sen. Gramm joined UBS Investment Bank in 2002. At UBS, he provides strategic advice to major corporate and institutional clients worldwide, government institutions, and central banks. Sen. Gramm holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Georgia and has published numerous articles and books on subjects ranging from monetary theory and policy to private property to the economics of mineral extraction. The cost is $20 for TRIDEC members if paid and registered by July 1 and $30 for non-members and all registrations received after July 1 or paid at the door. Contact Kristi Kesler at (509) 735-1000.

 

Mark Your Calendar

Economic and Workforce Development Conference

SEPTEMBER 3-4. Registration opens July 1 for the Governor's 2008 Economic and Workforce Development Conference to be held September 3 and 4 in Lynnwood, Wash.  Economic and workforce development partners will gather to assess how the state's vision of the future, called The Next Washington, is working in communities. More.

 

Micro Nano Breakthrough Conference

SEPTEMBER 8-10, REGISTER BY AUGUST 25. The Fifth Annual Micro Nano Breakthrough Conference will be held September 8-10, 2008, at the Hilton Hotel in Vancouver, Wash. It will include more than more than 300 industry leaders, researchers, academics, entrepreneurs, investors, and tech transfer professionals discussing  issues and opportunities in commercializing small-tech innovation. The cost is $240 for the public, $145 for students, and $125 for short-course registration only. The event is sponsored by the Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute and the Washington Technology Center. More information. Contact Skip Rung at (541) 231-4883.

Got News?

We invite your contributions! We will consider items that fit the mission of this publication, including your tech-related news, awards, and notices of upcoming events. Please send text and photos to Andrea McMakin or call (509) 372-6013.

Tri-Cities Tech Business Update is published by the Economic Development Office at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Each month, we send you an e-mail message, giving you the link of news, tips, awards, upcoming events, and other information about local technology-based businesses and organizations that support them. With business and community partners, our goal is to build and diversify the Tri-Cities economy—adding skilled jobs in primary-sector industries that bring in outside dollars. Currently, more than 1,100 tech-related businesses, investors, and economic development stakeholders subscribe to the newsletter, mostly in the Mid-Columbia area and the rest of the Pacific Northwest. This newsletter (RL-P00-009) supports DOE-Richland's vision for the future of the Hanford Site and surrounding area through the creation of research opportunities, new industries, and new business clusters