Phenix Rising: First Tenant Joins Biotech Center

The announcement of Phenix Research Products as the first tenant in A-B Tech's Biotechnology Incubation and Training Center came at a June press conference at the Enka Site. Announcing the news were (l-r) Joe Dunn, a member of Asheville City Council and the Buncombe County Economic Development Commission (EDC); David Young, vice chairman of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners and chairman of the EDC; Greg Schulz, president of Phenix; A-B Tech President K. Ray Bailey; and Rick Lutovsky, president and CEO of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce.

A company described as the anchor tenant needed to boost the region's biotechnology initiative announced plans in June to establish its corporate headquarters and East Coast distribution center at A-B Tech's Enka Site.

Phenix Research Products, a California-based supplier of lab instruments to the biotech industry, cited A-B Tech's Biotechnology Incubation and Training Center as one of the deciding factors in its decision to locate in Asheville.

"We chose Asheville over other locations for several reasons, including its central location to our East Coast customer base as well as this incredible biotech facility at the A-B Tech Enka Site," said Phenix President Greg Schulz, who joked that the Sand Hill Road address seemed like a fitting one because a road of the same name was one of the birthplaces of Silicon Valley.

Schulz said the Biotech Center offers many advantages, including quality lab space, excellent conference and training facilities, and cooperation with other Western North Carolina biotech companies for product development and business expansion. Phenix is expected to add about 45 jobs ranging from warehouse workers to scientists to an Eastern region sale manager by the end of 2004, he said.

"Phenix Research Products is the anchor tenant we've been looking for to kick-start the entire Western North Carolina biotechnology effort," said David Young, vice chairman of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners and chairman of the Buncombe County Economic Development Commission. "Their presence here will only aid in getting other biotech companies to locate in our area."

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The Big Chill

Kendro Laboratory Products has donated a Revco Ultima upright low-temperature freezer valued at $7,000 to A-B Tech's Biotechnology Incubation and Training Center. The unit, which has a -80 degree Celsius range, will be placed in one of the center's shared-use labs.

President K. Ray Bailey welcomed the donation. "One of the major challenges is outfitting the center with the necessary equipment to support start-up companies and biotechnology training curriculums. This donation helps ease the burden of funding equipment for the labs," he said. "Additionally, it shows that Kendro Laboratory Products is a committed community partner and a great supporter of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College."

Kendro announced in June it will locate its headquarters in Asheville and expand its Weaverville manufacturing facility, bringing about 110 new jobs to the area. The company manufactures and markets a variety of equipment for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, clinical, diagnostic, and blood processing sectors.

A-B Tech completed a Quality Program training project for Kendro in February that Corporate and Economic Development Dean Matt Meyer said "helped open the door" for the company's expansion. "We will, once the expansion starts, be doing more of the same and assisting in their orientation and production training of new hires," Meyer said.

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Showing Off The Green

Michael Gray, Chairperson of Biology shows a group of area high school faculty and guidance counselors the Sycamore Building greenhouse during the Tech Prep Curriculum Expo June 9 and 10. This year's Expo featured tours of the campus as well as a student/graduate panel discussion hosted by WLOS Tammy Watford.

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New OD Programs

The new fiscal year brings a new OD Plan and with it, new programs. Thanks so much to all of you who provided feedback regarding last year's programs and input for this year's planning process. The OD Calendar for July through December is being finalized and it will be sent via email. It will also be posted on the intranet. You can link to it from the home page by clicking on Organization Development Schedule. If you are having trouble finding what you need, please call me at ext. 178. I will continue to send a program update via email at the beginning of each month.

All employees are welcome to participate in any of the general interest programs that we offer. Some of the safety programs are required for certain positions as noted in the program description. What do you have to look forward to this year? Some of the general interest programs that are being planned for this year are listed below. (Some are subject to the availability of funding)

Life Challenges:

Retirement, eldercare issues, stress management, environment, personal financial management, basic car service

Technology:

Introduction to computers, Excel, Word, Access, Publisher, GroupWise, using A-B Tech's intranet, how to protect your home computer from viruses, graphic design

Work Challenges:

Time management/organization skills, project management, resolving conflict through invitational education, Spanish in the workplace, QEP roundtable discussions

Workplace Safety and Security:

OSHA-required training, ergonomics, workplace violence prevention. Focused programs are geared for a particular employee group. If participation is required, this is noted in the program description. If you wish to attend a program, but are not in the designated target group, talk with your supervisor and contact me to determine the applicability of the program and the availability of seating. Some of the focused programs that are being planned for this year are listed below. (Some are subject to the availability of funding)

Curriculum Academic Advisor Series:

Overview of the Advising/Registration Process, Academic Advising for New Advisors, Advising Financial Aid Students, Academic Advising Refresher, Advisor Roundtable, Articulation Partners Roundtable, Invitational Education for Advising

Instructor Development Series:

A-B Tech Great Teachers Retreat, Invitational education in the Classroom, Instructional Technology (i.e. smart classrooms, Blackboard, PowerPoint, designing an effective online learning environment, online testing, online teaching best practices), Learning Resources (i.e. library, audio-visual, and electronic resources), Handling Emergencies in the Classroom, Instructional Methodology, Curriculum Adjunct Instructor Program, ConEd Part- Time Instructor Program

Leadership Development Series:

Senior Leaders Program, Middle Leaders Program, First-Line Leaders Program (i.e. project management, team building, chair-specific programs), Invitational education for Leaders, Delegation, Grant Writing, Aspiring Leaders

Office Professional Development Series:

Invitational Education on the Front Line, Understanding your Work Style, Creating Word Forms/Templates, Creating Excel Forms/Templates, Copier troubleshooting

Carol Rovello, Director of Employee and Organization Development

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