KU INNOVATION PARK - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- President of the Board
As CEO, Adam Courtney provides strategic and operational leadership of the Park, including overseeing business operations, strategic initiatives and resource management, and fostering the Park's culture, mission and vision. Adam previously worked for the Federal Housing Finance Agency. He served as the Park's chief financial officer for ten years before being named CEO and president of the Board in March 2024.
Aditi Kiragi is a senior at the University of Kansas studying Finance and Marketing with a specialization in Marketing Analytics. She works with tenant companies on their business needs and assists the Park's staff with internal developments. In addition to her responsibilities as a student and business analyst, Aditi is the President of the Finance Club, a member of Delta Sigma Pi, and the KU Consulting Club.
Job Titles:
- President and Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Lawrence
Bonnie Lowe has been the president and chief executive officer of The Chamber of Lawrence since January 2019. In that role, she is responsible for leadership, strategic planning, and management functions. She had earned her Bachelor of Science in Finance from Fort Hays State University. Before her current position, Bonnie was the chief operations officer for the Chamber. For four years before working with the Chamber, Bonnie was a senior civil investigator for the US Attorney's Office. In Lawrence, from 1998 to 2008, Bonnie worked as the Community Bank President. She also served on the Lawrence City Commission.
Job Titles:
- Director of Business Services
Chris Rehkamp is an experienced entrepreneurial ecosystem builder and has supported the launch and growth of new businesses for nearly a decade. An entrepreneur himself, Rehkamp most recently served as associate director of the Technology Venture Studio at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Innovation Center. Chris has a Master of Professional Studies in Technology Entrepreneurship from the University of Maryland. Startland News named him a Community Builder to Watch in 2022.
Job Titles:
- City Manager of Lawrence
- City Manager, City of Lawrence
Craig Owens began serving as City Manager of Lawrence in July 2019 after serving as City Manager for the City of Clayton, Missouri, for 11 years. Over the past 25 years, he has served similar positions for the cities of Rowlett, Texas, O'Fallon, Illinois, and Hazelwood, Missouri. Craig holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Kansas. He is a member of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). Craig is a former president of the Missouri City/County Management Association and the St. Louis Area City/County Management Association.
Job Titles:
- Board Secretary - Executive Director, Lied Center of Kansas
Derek Kwan serves as the Lawrence Chamber Board Chair and secretary of KU Innovation Park's Board of Directors. He has served as the Executive Director of the Lied Center of Kansas since January 2014. Derek previously worked for Interlochen Center for the Arts as the Executive Director of Interlochen Presents. At the Lincoln Center in New York City, Derek served as the Vice President of Concerts and Touring for Jazz and the Associate Director of Programming & Concert Operations for Jazz. A voting member of the Recording Academy, he has production credits on over 60 albums. Derek also serves as a board member for the LMH Health Foundation.
Dorothy Haggard is a senior at the University of Kansas studying chemical engineering with concentrations in pre-medicine and biomedical engineering. She is involved with many aspects of the Park, including market and commercialization analysis for startups, managing current tenants' business needs, and assisting the team with other projects as needed. In addition to her responsibilities as a student and business analyst, Dorothy is an undergraduate researcher, co-president of the Society of Women Engineers, and a KU Global Scholar.
Job Titles:
- Board Chair - Chancellor, University of Kansas
Douglas Girod, M.D., has been the Chancellor of KU since 2017, where he established a bold vision for the University of Kansas to be a destination for top scholars from across the world, an engine of economic growth for Kansas, and one of the nation's leading research universities. Chancellor Girod received his bachelor's degree in chemistry at the University of California at Davis and his M.D. from the University of California at San Francisco. He is involved with several other organizations, including as a board member of the AAU, Civic Council of Kansas City, chambers of commerce in Lawrence and Greater Kansas City, and MRI Global. Chancellor Girod was recognized with a Regional Leadership Award from the Mid-America Regional Council in 2016 for his work with KC Rising.
Job Titles:
- Commissioner, Douglas County
Karen Willey earned her Ph.D. in Geography from KU before starting and operating several successful businesses in Douglas County. Her latest company, FarmTender, LLC, is producing an online application geared toward expanding regenerative farming practices in Kansas. Currently, Dr. Willey leverages her 25 years of nonprofit board experience through her work as a professional consultant and grant writer with Futureful, a local consulting group serving health, housing, and human services nonprofits, mainly in urban Kansas City. In 2022, she was appointed to fulfill an unexpired term on the Douglas County Commission. Additionally, Dr. Willey serves as the President of BRAC, a local housing nonprofit, as a volunteer firefighter with Willow Springs Fire District, as a member of the NAACP Legal Redress Committee, and in many other community roles.
Job Titles:
- Chairman - Elect
- Incoming Chair, the Chamber of Lawrence
Kate Chinn is the chair-elect for The Chamber's Board of Directors. Kate owns Express Employment Professionals in Lawrence, a leading staffing provider helping job seekers find work with a wide variety of local businesses.
Job Titles:
- Internal Operations Manager
Kerri Johnson manages the Park's day-to-day operations, including all administrative and front office matters, managing activities, handling scheduling, and working with service providers to maintain and improve building efficiency and Park staff productivity.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Strategic Communications
Lindsey Slater oversees strategic communications for the Park, raising brand awareness to drive business development and expansion while providing support to resident companies. An experienced communications professional with a knack for storytelling, Lindsey highlights the strengths of the Park and its companies through the written word, video and beyond. She most recently was the director of communications and storytelling for the Association of Chamber of Commerce Professionals.
Mike Smithyman manages plant operations and construction, handles leasing and related client interfaces, and works with tenants and prospective tenants to meet various business growth, management, and operational needs. He brings years of experience in the commercial real estate industry to the Park. Additionally, Mike tracks and manages the Park's economic metrics.
Job Titles:
- Vice Mayor, City of Lawrence
Mike Dever was elected to the Lawrence City Commission in 2023 and serves as Vice Mayor. Mike is the president and CEO of GuideWire Consulting, LLC. He supervises the entire staff and all departmental services and oversees a wide variety of environmental and property assessment services.
Job Titles:
- Treasurer of the Board
- Member of the Lawrence
Robert C. Johnson is a long-standing member of the Lawrence community. He established a successful insurance brokerage firm and has been an influential leader in the Lawrence business community. He has served on numerous task forces and boards, including the Douglas County Bank board, the Lawrence Memorial Hospital Trustees, and the Bert Nash Community Mental Health board. He was named president of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce in 1986. In 2002, he was elected to the Douglas County Commission and served for eight years. During his tenure as Commissioner, KU Innovation Park was conceived and created. Bob's leadership led to the establishment of the Park's unique coalition of the City, County, University, and business through the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice Chancellor, University of Kansas Medical Center
Robert Simari, M.D., the Franklin E. Murphy Professor in Cardiology, has been the Executive Vice Chancellor for the University of Kansas Medical Center since January 2018. He also serves on the board of directors for KU Innovation Park. Dr. Simari earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame and his medical degree from the University of Kansas. Before joining KU as the executive vice chancellor, Dr. Simari served as vice chair for the Division of Cardiovascular Diseases and co-principal investigator of the Center for Translational Science Activities at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. He also served as the executive dean of the KU School of Medicine from 2014 to 2019. Dr. Simari is a member and served as the president of the Association of University Cardiologists and continues to practice cardiology at the University of Kansas Health System.
Ryan Dahl is a sophomore at the University of Kansas studying chemical engineering and business. Ryan has gained experience in entrepreneurship and sales through his custom apparel company. Outside of class, he is an undergraduate researcher for the Institute for Sustainable Engineering. In addition to his responsibilities as a student and business analyst, Ryan Dahl is an ambassador to the University Honors Program and serves as Vice President of Corporate Affairs for KU's Engineering Student Council.
Job Titles:
- Administrator
- Administrator, Douglas County
Sarah Plinsky was hired as the County Administrator in September 2019 after serving in the interim position for nine months. She is currently a member of the board for KU Innovation Park. Before becoming the administrator, she had served as the Assistant County Administrator since December 2010. Previously, Sarah was the Assistant to the County Manager in Johnson County, Kansas. In Johnson County, she also served as the Interim Assistant County Manager for the Community Services Team and Interim Director of Public Health. Sarah is a graduate of Leadership ICMA (International City and County Management Association) and the Senior Executive Institute at the University of Virginia. She holds a B.A. in political science and a Master's in public administration from the University of Kansas.
Job Titles:
- Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of Kansas
Valentino Stella, Ph.D., serves as a board member for KU Innovation Park. He is a KU Distinguished Professor Emeritus who taught in the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry. Professor Stella graduated from Victorian College of Pharmacy in Parkville, Victoria, Australia, with a Bachelor of Pharmacy. He grew up in Australia but went to graduate school in Kansas. Professor Stella received his Ph.D. from KU, where he would later teach. While at KU, Professor Stella received several awards for his excellence in teaching, including the Honor for the Outstanding Progressive Educator (H.O.P.E.), an award designated by the senior class. Professor Stella has extensive experience with inventions and startup companies.