THE INDY PARTNERSHIP
Kristin Jones was appointed senior manager for Life Sciences at The Indy Partnership, the economic development organization for the Indianapolis region.
Jones is responsible for the creation, implementation and evaluation of an aggressive Life Sciences business development sales effort for the region served by The Indy Partnership. The goal of the position is to further enhance the area’s growth recognition as a Life Sciences region and to work in conjunction with the region’s local economic development organizations, BioCrossroads, Indianapolis Economic Development, Mayor Bart Peterson’s office and the Indiana Health Industry Forum.
“The creation of the position and the addition of Kristen’s talents to The Indy Partnership will improve the region’s ability to target companies involved in the Life Sciences,” says Greg Schenkel, president and CEO of The Indy Partnership. “We will be better equipped to lure them to what is proving to be one of the leading regions for their industry, the Indianapolis region.”
Jones was most recently director of the International Trade Division of the Indiana Department of Commerce. She has also served as an international trade specialist for Europe, Canada, the Eastern Mediterranean region and South Africa, where her duties included the provision of technical assistance to Indiana exporters to those countries.
She has also served as trade services manager for the Indiana-Mexico Business Enhancement Project, a public/private enterprise designed to assist Indiana businesses export to Mexico. The project helped more than 65 businesses expand into the Mexican market.
GUIDANT
Guidant Corp.’s board of directors elected Jack A. Shaw, retired president, CEO and a director of California-based Hughes Electronics Corp., to fill an additional director seat . The election of Shaw increases membership of the board to 15.
“As the former president and CEO of Hughes Electronics and someone who has been nationally recognized for his contributions to both the communications and engineering industries, Jack brings a breadth of experience that will further broaden Guidant’s ability to bring the most advanced cardiovascular medical technologies to patients and physicians,” says James Cornelius, chairman of Guidant’s board.
“Jack’s exceptional business knowledge and extensive operational experience will be a highly valuable asset for our board. We look forward to his contributions,” says Ronald Dollens, president and CEO, Guidant Corp.
Shaw retired from Hughes Electronics on Dec. 31, 2003. He was elected CEO and a member of the board in May 2001 and president in November 2001. Previously, he served as corporate senior executive vice president of Hughes. He has also served as chairman and CEO of Hughes Network Systems and held senior management positions with ITT Space Communications Inc. and Digital Communications Corp.
EMMIS COMMUNICATIONS CORP.
Emmis Communications Corp. announced that Vanessa Oubre, vice president of research for Emmis Television, was named vice president/general manager of WALA-TV and WBPG-TV in Mobile, Ala./Pensacola, Fla.
“In the last several months, Vanessa has been deeply involved in the management of the Mobile properties and has shown her capacity to oversee this operation,” says Joe Cook, regional vice president for Emmis Television. “We have been thrilled with her work in the research area, and I know she will bring that same energy and commitment to her new position.”
After joining Emmis in July 1999 as director of research for New Orleans’ WVUE-TV, Oubre was promoted to vice president of research for Emmis Television in June 2000. Prior to joining Emmis, she served as marketing and research director at Houston’s KHOU-TV, research director at WOIO/WUAB-TV Cleveland, WKYC-TV Cleveland and at Network Ventures in New York, and as marketing coordinator at WDSU-TV in New Orleans.
Oubre is a cum laude graduate of Xavier University in New Orleans and has a bachelor’s degree in communications.
BOSE MCKINNEY & EVANS LLP
Bose McKinney & Evans LLP attorney Chad Pittman was named to the board of directors of the Boone County Economic Development Corp.
Pittman is an associate in the firm’s real estate group and assists clients with leasing, contracts, zoning and ordinance matters, real estate disputes and other issues related to the sale, development or use of real estate. He served as a rifle platoon leader in Kuwait and Iraq, and while participating in Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom, Pittman led 40 men while conducting combat operations.
Pittman is a member of the Indianapolis, Indiana State and American Bar associations. He attended West Point Military Academy and earned his bachelor of science and law degrees from Indiana University.
CUMMINS INC.
Cummins Inc. announced that Michael Cross, vice president, Fleetguard Emission Solutions, was appointed a corporate officer.
Cross will continue to lead the development of advanced integrated exhaust aftertreatment products and Fleetguard’s growing retrofit business. He reports to Rick Mills, president of Fleetguard.
“I am very pleased that Mike is responsible for this important and growing segment of our business,” says Cummins Chairman and CEO Tim Solso. “Our Emission Solutions business is developing the full range of exhaust aftertreatment technologies to enable Cummins to choose the best emissions technology to apply in other markets around the world.”
Cross joined Cummins as inventory manager for the parts business in 1984. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management.
