Southern Indiana Business Report
ODON – The Uplands Science & Technology Foundation announced on Wednesday the addition of several new members to the organization’s board of directors. USTF, a nonprofit development and research organization dedicated to enhancing the vitality of the WestGate@Crane Technology Park, makes this announcement alongside several key progress updates in the park.
In addition to the expanded board capacity, the technology park has officially launched an updated brand and website upgrades while celebrating milestone project developments that complement the park’s momentum and growth potential.
USTF’s expanded board and new directors bring extensive experience in driving innovation-led economic development, a central theme of the technology park’s development strategy. The new board will enhance USTF’s business development activities, position the technology park for new state and federal opportunities, and strengthen USTF’s relationship with Indiana’s research universities and institutions.
New board members include:
- Bill Kaiser – Co-Chair, Dentons National Corporate Practice
- Bob Grewe – Executive Director, Daviess County Economic Development Corporation
- Dave Roberts – CEO, Applied Research Institute
- Devin Hillsdon-Smith, Director at Cushman and Wakefield
- Jackie Kerby Moore – Former Manager of Technology and Economic Development, Sandia National Laboratories
- Mark Lewis – CEO, Purdue Applied Research Institute
- Matt Meredith – Daviess County Council & Redevelopment Commission
- Russ Mumper – Vice President of Research, Indiana University
New advisory, non-voting directors include:
- Chris Jeffers – Vice President of Defense Business Development, Indiana Economic Development Corporation
- Joe Carley – Director of Research Initiatives and Economic Development, Indiana University
The collective experience of these members across the defense, economic development, real estate, academia and government sectors matches that of existing board members:
- Brianne Jerrells – Executive Director, Greene County Economic Development Corporation
- Jeff Quyle – President/CEO, Radius Indiana (treasurer)
- Jenna Dix – Director of Engagement, NSWC Crane (advisory, non-voting)
- Jessica Potts – Executive Director, Martin County Alliance for Economic Growth
- John Mensch – President, WestGate@Crane Authority
- Kevin Byrne – President/CEO, The University Financing Foundation (secretary)
- Phil Smith – Command Advocacy Lead, NSWC Crane (advisory, non-voting)
- Tina Peterson – President/CEO, Regional Opportunity Initiatives (chair)
“Ever since I began working with the Battery Innovation Center at WestGate in 2015, the vision of what WestGate can become to augment NSWC Crane’s impact to the community has been clear,” said Dave Roberts, CEO of the Applied Research Institute. “I am happy to help contribute to that compelling initiative in this new capacity.”
To further enhance WestGate@Crane’s momentum, USTF has launched an updated brand and website for the technology park. The new brand reflects the boldness of the emerging defense technologies that are driving growth and opportunity within NSWC Crane, at WestGate@Crane Technology Park, and in Indiana.
“The new website and rebranding support the concepts laid out in the 2021 WestGate@Crane Master Plan, which envisions a nationally recognized innovation community situated within the scenic landscape of the Indiana Uplands region,” said Bryant Niehoff, CEO of USTF. “WestGate@Crane is central to USTF’s mission, and this new unified brand and online presence is a vital step in taking this vision to the world.”
The refreshed website, westgatecrane.org, now serves as a hub for all-things WestGate as part of a larger initiative to unify the technology park’s messaging and objectives with those of its many regional stakeholders, including Daviess, Greene and Martin counties, the WestGate Authority, Regional Opportunity Initiatives, Radius Indiana, NSA and NSWC Crane, Crane Army Ammunition Activity and more. USTF’s position as the park’s collaboration coordinator, which was formalized in an official agreement with the WestGate Authority this summer, presented this opportunity to consolidate multiple sites into a single streamlined presence. New features include project development resources, a comprehensive real estate guide, an interactive map of the park, and even a link to employment opportunities with WestGate tenants and defense ecosystem partners.
Tech park growth
In November 2022, Gov. Eric Holcomb joined local officials and business executives to break ground on the new WestGate One microelectronics campus within the technology park. The $84 million development is planned to leverage academic, corporate and defense partners for semiconductor research and manufacturing in the U.S. Although the WestGate One facility is still in early stages of development, the technology park is already experiencing growth in the emerging microelectronics cluster within the region.
Two of the four original companies recognized by Holcomb as part of the WestGate One ecosystem, Nhanced Semiconductors and Reliable MicroSystems, have already initiated operations in the park. In January 2024, NHanced Semiconductors celebrated the opening of its 30,000 SF advanced packaging facility. Additionally, Reliable Microsystems continues to expand its capacity with their WestGate Design Support Center, over 50% employment growth, and a robust apprenticeship program that contributes to the workforce development efforts sponsored by the DoD.
The growing microelectronics presence is accompanied by nearly $10 million in additional investments that have either been recently completed or are actively under construction within the park, including the Silicon Crossroads Microelectronics Collaboration Center (SC3), NSWC’s Leadership & Workforce Development office renovation within the WestGate Academy, the ongoing Westcott Homes residential development, and High Bridge Solutions to name a few.
“The future is bright for WestGate@Crane. With the depth and experience added from our expanded Board of Directors, a refined brand and online platform, and continued progress in microelectronics and emerging technologies, USTF and WestGate@Crane are focused on bolstering NSWC Crane’s exponential growth and its contribution to national defense,” added Niehoff.