HR Notices From May 21
Wayne State Names Joan C. Dunbar Associate VP Of Tech Commercialization: Hilary Ratner, vice president for research at Wayne State University, announced the appointment of Joan C. Dunbar as associate vice president of technology commercialization in the division of research. Dunbar assumes her new position effective immediately. Her appointment comes after a competitive national search in which she emerged as the transformational leader the university sought. In 2012, Dunbar joined WSU's Division of Research as interim associate vice president of technology commercialization. In just a year, Dunbar nearly doubled faculty invention disclosures, facilitated the pipeline of nine start-up opportunities with the anticipation of several companies launching in the near future, initiated a mentors-in-residence program, created an innovation fellows program, began the Technology Development Incubator, and strengthened partnerships with WSU's TechTown. These significant achievements were powered by grant funds, projected to be $2.5 million over a three-year period that Dunbar secured from the New Economy Initiative. Dunbar received her Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Sydney, and undertook postdoctoral studies at the Carlsberg Laboratory in Copenhagen, Denmark and subsequently at the University of California, Irvine. She was appointed assistant professor in WSU's Department of Molecular Biology and Center for Molecular Biology and Genetics in 1987. She has served as principal investigator and co-investigator on many grants funded by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation, and collaborated extensively with industry on these projects. She published numerous papers on protein-DNA recognition and transcriptional regulation. In 1997, Dunbar became consultant director of research and biotechnology development in the Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics where she developed key academic and industry partnerships, created the Biotechnology Core Lab, and provided faculty support in securing SBIR and STTR grants. In 2000, Dunbar became the founding director of biotechnology development and biomedical innovation in Wayne State's School of Medicine. In this role, Dunbar established a new enterprise and infrastructure to promote and facilitate commercial translation of academic research by providing critical outreach and counseling to faculty on invention disclosures, intellectual property and technology commercialization. She created one of the first "Business of Biotech" curriculum programs in the nation that focused on engaging graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in biomedical sciences in entrepreneurship.
Jim Street Joins Danlaw Inc. as Chief Financial Officer: Farmington Hills-based Danlaw Inc., a global provider of vehicle telematics solutions, automotive electronics and embedded engineering services, announced today the appointment of Jim Street as its new chief financial officer. Reporting directly to Danlaw CEO Raju Dandu, Street brings deep experience with securing equity investments and funding sources, as well as managing the financial strength of fast-growing public and private companies to Danlaw's explosive growth and expansion activities. Street comes to Danlaw with a strong background in financial management, business model development and multi-national accounting and controls expertise. Street's 35 years of financial management experience with high-tech alternative energy start-up companies and automakers in Michigan, will help to guide and propel Danlaw's growth and global expansion. Before joining the company, Street was the vice president of finance for ALTe, which was engaged in the business of designing, developing and installing complete hybrid-electric powertrains into fleet applications. Street served in senior financial management positions with Ford Motor Co., Mazda Motors USA and BBK Inc. a business advisor and restructuring company, providing financial and operational oversight to multi-billion dollar business interests within these companies. While at Ford and Mazda, Street led the finance effort for several national labor negotiations. During his time at BBK, he led several major companies through successful restructuring initiatives. Street earned his bachelor of arts in accounting from Michigan State University, and his MBA from Wayne State University. Danlaw's 300+ engineering professionals have been providing cloud-based, connected vehicle telematics solutions and embedded electronics to OEM's and their Tier-1 supply base for over 29 years. Danlaw has global reach with facilities in the USA, UK, India and China. Danlaw's specialty areas include telematics, infotainment, vehicle network communications, embedded systems development, testing and manufacturing. Their customers include automotive insurance and fleet companies, automotive OEMs and suppliers, worldwide. For more product information: www.danlawinc.com.
Social Media Entrepreneur Joseph D. Murphy Joins Bassett & Bassett As Digital Media Associate: Social media entrepreneur Joseph D. Murphy has joined Detroit-based Bassett & Bassett Communication Managers and Counselors as Digital Media Associate. He graduated from Michigan State University's College of Communication Arts and Sciences in May of 2013. Murphy previously originated and successfully operated Respect This Fresh, LLC, a web-based social media platform in contemporary urban music. It passed the million unique visitor milestone in its first eighteen months, gained national advertisers and sold its branded clothing in 10 states and three countries. Murphy shares the Bassett firm core value of generational responsibility and giving back. He formed Respect These Kidz Foundation as a 501(c)3 non-profit to provide mentoring with disadvantaged children. Murphy strengthens the firm's international bench in designing and managing fully integrated strategic communication and digital marketing programs. More at bassettbassett.com.
