Future of BTR Park subject of breakfast speaker presentation

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—The Western Michigan University Business Technology and Research Park, home to more than 40 private-sector businesses and the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, is the subject of an upcoming Mercantile Bank of Michigan Breakfast Series event hosted by WMU’s Haworth College of Business.

Bob Miller, associate vice president for community outreach at WMU, will discuss "The Western Michigan University Business Technology and Research Park: An Update and a View to the Future" at 8 a.m. Friday, Nov. 21, in Room 2150 of Schneider Hall.

The event is free and open to the public and begins with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (269) 387-6059 or at wmich.edu/business/mercantile-rsvp. Free parking is available.

Miller and BTR Park

As associate vice president of community outreach for the university, Miller focuses on developing WMU’s Business Technology and Research Park and on facilitating numerous services and outreach efforts in the local area and beyond. His duties include overseeing WMU’s participation in various community-based projects, serving as the University’s point person with Kalamazoo City and County officials and providing staff support for the WMU Foundation.

The private-sector firms that are located at the park are from three key business sectors—life sciences, advanced engineering and information technology. In just over 10 years, more than 40 private-sector businesses have located in the BTR Park, with more than 1,400 direct and indirect jobs retained or created. Of these businesses, nine have constructed facilities.

The park is also home to the Southwest Michigan Innovation Center, a state-of-the-art, high-tech/wet lab business incubator, and the WMU Biosciences Research and Commercialization Center, which provides commercialization expertise, research support and funding to emerging life sciences ventures.

Upcoming speakers

• Jan. 30: Chris Harris, director of Seita Scholars Program, WMU Center for Fostering Success
• Feb. 27: Chuck Jones, chief design and research and development officer, Newell-Rubbermaid

About the series

The Mercantile Bank of Michigan Breakfast Speaker Series provides an opportunity for the local community to hear top business leaders and WMU faculty, alumni and friends of the Haworth College of Business discuss current topics of interest.

For more information or to register, contact the Haworth College of Business at (269) 387-6059 or at wmich.edu/business/mercantile-rsvp. 

For more news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.