Newswise — The board of directors of the South Jersey Technology Park at Rowan University, Inc. (SJTP, Inc.), a not-for-profit subsidiary of Rowan University, has tapped technology industry veteran Thomas Drury to serve as its chief executive officer. The Technology Park is designed to be a home for start-up, early-stage and established technology businesses and for inventors, entrepreneurs and researchers.
Drury has a three-decade track record in the start up, financing and management of technology-based, entrepreneurial businesses. Most recently, he served as president, CEO and director of Voxware, Inc., Lawrenceville, N.J., a leading supplier of voice-based solutions for the logistics workforce.
"We are pleased Tom Drury has agreed to lead the Technology Park at this critical time in its development," said Dr. Donald Farish, president of Rowan University and a member of the SJTP, Inc., Board. "He brings an extensive background in technology and business that we believe will help us fulfill the Technology Park's mission to develop a vibrant complex that draws start-up and established businesses, researchers and others to this region of South Jersey."
Drury commented, "Dr. Farish and the Rowan University faculty and administrative team have created an exciting vision for the University. A central theme of this vision is the creation, expansion and growth of a dynamic technology community at Rowan. The energy created by this vision is already evident on campus today, and it is a privilege for me to have the opportunity to leverage my entrepreneurial experience and regional technology business community network in support of this important and worthwhile goal."
Prior to Voxware, Drury served as director, president and CEO of Sensar, Inc., Moorestown, N.J., which developed biometric security hardware and software. Prior to Sensar, Drury served as director, president and CEO of Micro Dynamics, Ltd., Silver Spring, Md., a document imaging software company, and as chairman, president and CEO of Urix Corporation, Horsham, Pa., a voice processing equipment and software company. Drury is also currently a partner of BaseCamp Ventures L.L.C., Mt. Laurel, N.J., an early-stage venture capital investment partnership, a position he has held since June 2000.
Drury formerly served on several corporate, association and investment advisory boards, including those of the Ben Franklin Technology Partnership of Southeast Pennsylvania, Greater Philadelphia Venture Capital Group, New Jersey Economic Development Authority Seed Loan Program and New Jersey Technology Council. He currently serves as a member of the Technology Advisory Board for the New Jersey Edison Innovation Fund. A life-long resident of New Jersey, he graduated cum laude from St. Peter's College, Jersey City, N.J., with a B.S. in computer sciences.
"Tom brings a long history of entrepreneurship to this position. He's been on both sides of the equation — he's been a CEO and entrepreneur as well as an investor and advisor to entrepreneurial companies. He's seen it from all angles, which is what is so unique about Tom Drury. As a result, he really can provide value from many different perspectives. That to me is just huge, because it's not often you are able to find someone with such a multitude of experiences," said Maxine Ballen, founder and CEO of the New Jersey Technology Council. "As a long-term resident of South Jersey, Tom cares passionately about the region. With Rowan's commitment to the Technology Park and with a CEO with Tom's background, the South Jersey technology community will finally get to where we need it to be."
Drury is replacing Dr. Anthony Marchese, who served as Technology Park project director and recently completed his commitment to shepherd the initial phase of the effort. Marchese is returning to a full-time faculty position in Rowan's College of Engineering, where he will serve as chair of Mechanical Engineering.
"Anthony Marchese has done a superlative job in making the Technology Park become a reality for Rowan and for our region. We — and I imagine future entrepreneurs and business leaders in South Jersey — will long be grateful for his expertise and dedication in helping to create the South Jersey Technology Park," said Rowan's Dr. Philip Tumminia, chair of the SJTP, Inc., Board of Directors and special assistant to the president/Advancement.
About the South Jersey Technology Park
Located off Rt. 322 near the Rt. 55 interchange in Mantua Township, N.J., the Technology Park will provide competitively priced, Class A facilities for start-up and established companies to bring innovative technologies to the marketplace. The first building, the 45,000-square-foot Samuel H. Jones Innovation Center, will include a mix of laboratories, a technology business incubator and laboratory/office space for private technology-based firms and for Rowan sponsored research. The building is being developed by Lincoln Property Company, Philadelphia; was designed by the architectural firm Ueland Junker McCauley Nicholson, Philadelphia; and is being built by the construction management firm Skanska USA Building Inc., Parsippany.
The mission of the Technology Park is to establish a technology-based entrepreneurial economy; expand and strengthen the unique research and learning environment of Rowan University; and create value for its surrounding communities in their economic, physical and social development.
The Technology Park is a public/private partnership that has received support from numerous organizations and individuals, including the New Jersey Economic Development Authority ($5.8 million), the Delaware River and Bay Authority ($5 million), the New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology ($1.5 million), South Jersey businessman Samuel H. Jones ($1 million), the Rowan University Foundation ($1 million), the U.S. Small Business Administration ($500,000) and the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs ($150,000).
The Technology Park broke ground for the Samuel H. Jones Innovation Center in April 2006 and held a topping off ceremony marking the completion of structural work on the building in January. Doors are expected to open this fall.
For more information about the South Jersey Technology Park at Rowan University, visit http://www.sjtechpark.com.
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