Fargo, N.D. – Long-time board member Chuck Hoge has been named interim executive director of the NDSU Research and Technology Park. Hoge is succeeding previous interim executive director Brenda Wyland, who recently accepted a position as director of marketing for Appareo Systems.

“Under Brenda’s leadership, and the leadership of former Executive Director Tony Grindberg, the Research and Technology Park has achieved great success, including being named the top research park in the nation in 2006,” Hoge said. “I am passionate about seeing the park continue its success, which will only result if our clients are successful. I also look forward to helping refine the park’s strategic vision for the future growth.”

Hoge has served on the board of directors for the NDSU Research and Technology Park for most of its existence. He brings executive-level leadership experience as former president and CEO of Bobcat Company and former CEO of Otter Tail Corporation’s manufacturing platform.

“Chuck has been involved with the Research and Technology Park for many years and has spent much of his career as a business executive,” said NDSU President Dean L. Bresciani, who also serves as president of the park’s board of directors. “He brings outstanding experience to this position, and we are glad to be able to tap into that for this arm of the university that helps commercialize NDSU research.”

The NDSU Research and Technology Park has grown to include seven facilities totaling 370,000 square feet with capital investment of nearly $70 million. Nearly 900 people are employed by Research and Technology Park tenants. Several companies, including Intelligent Insights and Pedigree Technologies, have graduated from the park and relocated to other Fargo locations.

In 2007, the NDSU Technology Incubator opened as part of the park to provide value-added services to start-up companies. Nine companies in various stages of development reside in the incubator. Bobcat serves as the anchor tenant, providing many opportunities for collaboration with NDSU staff and students.

As interim executive director, Hoge will be responsible for supporting Research and Technology Park clients by maintaining programs, especially for start-up companies in the Technology Incubator building.

In addition, the park is initiating a strategic planning process to determine its future direction. “The timing of the planning process works well as Dr. Kelly Rusch joins NDSU as the new vice president for research and creative activity,” Hoge said. “This will be an opportunity to dovetail the park’s activity with her vision for research activity at NDSU.”

The park plans to work with an experienced national consultant to prepare an assessment and make recommendations before the end of the year. This will include interviewing constituents of the Research and Technology Park. The board of directors will review the recommendations and develop the strategy early in 2014.

Once the strategic plan is developed, the search for the permanent executive director will be conducted.