The executive director of the Western Sarnia-Lambton Research Park feels the park's future is bright.
Tom Strifler has announced plans to retire after almost four years on the job.
Strifler, who is credited with helping to stabilize the park's future prospects and grow the occupancy rate to its current 93%, believes it will continue to grow and attract economic development and technology commercialization for the entire region.
"We've got our economics in order in terms of being able to support ourselves financially," says Strifler. "We've got two new potential start-ups coming on site and the interest in the park has grown dramatically from that perspective."
He says one of those pilot plants is from the United States.
"It's looking at a new plastic that would be totally generated from organic matter," says Strifler. "That's exciting stuff and I think it's just an example of how success breeds success."
Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley with Western Sarnia-Lambton Research Park Executive Director Tom Strifler (File photo)
Community Development Corporation Chair, Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley says Strifler's calm professionalism and insightful advice will be missed.
"Up until Tom Strifler came on board, the park was being operated by Western out of London, at the same time they were operating three research parks, so it was sort of drive by management," says Bradley. "The board decided we needed a hands-on person in the community and Tom was a superb choice, and that was demonstrated by the numbers. We went from 60% occupancy up to almost 100% right now."
Bradley says over a dozen incubator projects were assisted under Strifler's leadership, including some prominent graduates to the commercial sector like BioAmber and KmX.
"He has the vision of the park and he understood the chemical community, understood the research in the bio-community and has been a true leader in that position," he says.
Mayor Bradley says Strifler will be flexible with his exit date, but wants to finish later this year. He says that gives the board the opportunity to look across North America for candidates to run the park.
