CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 8, 2004-- -- Nanotech Industry and Academic Leaders to Head Growing Regional Association --
The Chicago Microtechnology and Nanotechnology Community (CMNC), a non-profit organization focused on the continued growth of the Chicago's emerging nanotechnology industry, today announced an expanded board of directors and new executive leadership.
To help drive continued growth of the organization and expansion of its programs, the organization has named a number of industry and academic nanotechnology leaders to the CMNC board and executive leadership. The CMNC elected Sean Murdock, executive director of AtomWorks (CMNC's partner organization) its chairman; Milan Mrksich, professor of chemistry at the University of Chicago, its vice-chairman; and Nik Rokop, president & CEO of nLake Technology Partners, LLC, its president.
"Sean and Milan's leadership will help CMNC make a significant positive impact on the nanotechnology industry in the region," said Rokop. "The insight and experience these two advocates bring to the CMNC will help ensure its growth and effectiveness."
The new eleven-member CMNC board consists of: Sean Murdock, AtomWorks - Chairman Milan Mrksich, University of Chicago - Vice Chairman Nik Rokop, nLake - President Dan Gamota, Motorola - Treasurer Kevin Walkush, Consultant - Secretary Jung Lowe, Americasia Global Law Michael Gurin, CogniTek Jay Malin, Optronix Ray Pimentel, UK Trade & Investment Gopi Sethu, Nalco Tao Sun, Cabot Microelectronics
"We have enormous potential to build a leading nanotech cluster in Chicago, but it will not happen unless people invest the time and energy required to commercialize nanotech. Nik will provide great entrepreneurial leadership, and the new board is full of committed, talented people who are ready to roll up their sleeves to make it happen," said Murdock.
Among the new leadership's first set of nanotechnology community-building initiatives is the CMNC's recently announced 2004 nanotechnology/biotechnology seminar series that will be presented in partnership with the US-Israel Science & Technology Foundation (USISTF). This series of five seminars in 2004 will focus on nanotechnology issues and opportunities in biotechnology from a global perspective. The seminars will be held at Northwestern University in Evanston and Downtown Chicago, and will be linked via satellite to nanotechnology experts in Israel. Attendance is free of charge and each seminar will be archived on the CMNC website. The first seminar was held on March 24, 2004 and the next seminar will be held on June 17, 2004. More information is available about this series at www.chicagonano.org.
Since the inception of CMNC in July of 2002, the group has grown to more than 200 local and regional practitioners from academia, industry and professional service organizations. The group continues to fulfill its mission statement by regularly hosting educational events.
About CMNC
CMNC is the premier convergence point in Chicago of knowledge and resources for Midwest practitioners nanotechnology. The group works toward this goal by holding public educational seminars and special events, linking together organizations and individuals at the forefront of microtechnololgy and nanotechnology with businesses that can benefit from these developments. To learn more about how you can become involved in the CMNC as a general member and active committee member, please visit the website at www.chicagonano.org.
Contacts
The ChemPetitive Group Murad Sabzali, 630-400-3042 msabzali@chempetitive.com
