Meeting (in conjunction with the IEEE)

What's TRECC and What Can It Do For You?

Jack Curley

DuPage Technology Research, Education,
and Commercialization Center (TRECC)

Tuesday Nov 27th 2001 at 7:00pm
College of DuPage - OCC128cd

Abstract

Big ideas and ambitions are not new to DuPage County, and the plan for developing a world-class Research Park along its western boundary is no exception. Through the county's DuPage Airport Authority, a 700-acre area between the airport and Fermi Labs has been set aside for the development of the Park as well as appropriate amenities to attract and sustain companies that rely on R&D and innovation for their existence. The State of Illinois has also pledged $34MM to develop the Park's infrastructure, with $5MM of that already released for surveying and environmental assessment and impact studies.

Since the immediate location of the Park lacks a research university, a number of supplemental resources are being put in place there to assist small technology firms and to act as a magnet to draw companies to the research park and to persuade them to locate there. Among the resources in place or planned for the Park are technology and business assistance centers from NASA, EPA, the SBA, and DOD. A virtual reality laboratory and education center is also being developed there by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign through the National Center for Supercomputing Applications. Graduate courses will be offered as well as high-speed remote group collaboration opportunities for business and demonstration purposes, with access to massive databases. Business incubators, accelerators, and mentoring programs are in the planning process as well.

Jack Curley, Technology Marketing Manager of the Technology Research, Education, and Commercialization Center (TRECC), one of the centers now located at the airport, will present an overview and concept of the park, and will provide additional details on the services and resources that are being made available to Illinois businesses.

Speaker Bio

Jack is a member of IEEE and has lived and workd in the Chicago area for his entire career. Graduating from UIUC with a BSEE, he began work as an engineer with GTE's Automatic Electric Laboratories. His career path progressed through engineering, technical sales, marketing, and product management with several companies in the electrical/electronic arena, leading to the position of Operations Manager for KW Battery Company's Industrial Charger Division. During this time Mr. Curley also received an MBA degree from the University of Chicago's Executive Program.

After a few years of self-employment in his own business, a regular paycheck sounded good again and Jack joined NIST's Manufacturing Extension Program as an affiliate of the Chicago Manufacturing Center, founding and developing Extension Centers in both Will and Lake Counties. Earlier this year he joined the Technology Research, Education, and Commercialization Center (TRECC) as Technology Marketing Manager and is an employee of Battelle Memorial Institute, that manages all four of the government centers currently located at the DuPage County Airport.

Jack has three grown children and four grandchildren and has lived in Naperville for the past 28 years, where he currently resides with his wife Judy.

Getting to the meeting

The next general meeting of UniForum Chicago will be from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm on Tuesday, Nov 27th, 2001, at the College of DuPage, building K - room 161.

    College of DuPage
    Building OCC, Rm 128(c,d)
    22nd and Lambert
    Glen Ellyn, IL 60137-6599

Take 355 to Butterfield Rd (Rt 56). Butterfield West to Lambert Rd. Lambert Rd North to 22nd St. West on 22nd St to Lot 9 or 10 entrance. South into lot 9 or 10. Park in lot 9 or 10 and walk to the OCC (Open Campus Center) building. The meeting room is 128(c,d) which is towards the west end of the building.

All UniForum Chicago general meetings are open to the public free of charge.

For more information about UniForum Chicago contact info@uniforum.chi.il.us.