WDC Merger

SPARK and Washtenaw Development Council Merge to Form Ann Arbor SPARK
July 28, 2006

SPARK and the Washtenaw Development Council (WDC), Ann Arbor’s leading regional economic development organizations, officially merged today, creating one unified organization, Ann Arbor SPARK. The merger of the two organizations supports the region’s mission for economic growth and represents all communities in Washtenaw County.

“Year-to-date, WDC has experienced tremendous success assisting 12 companies, including Toyota, Google, Hyundai, Advanced Photonics and Xoran, creating 2,271 new jobs and $341 million of new investment,” said Michael A. Finney, president and chief executive officer of Ann Arbor SPARK. “SPARK has engaged 20 startup companies this fiscal year including Innovative Therapeutics, Airways, ERT Systems, Mindworks, Compendia Biosciences, and Phrixus Pharmaceuticals. These companies have collectively raised nearly $3 million and represent great opportunities for long-term economic growth in our region.”

“Ann Arbor SPARK is the result of a collective mission of local business, government, education and economic development leaders to find a better way to market the Ann Arbor region as a viable, thriving place to do business,” added William Milliken, chairperson of the Washtenaw Development Council. “An exceptional group of local leaders have come together to form the Ann Arbor SPARK Board of Directors, creating a strategic alliance that will rival any economic organization in the country.”

“Ann Arbor SPARK reflects the culmination of more than 2 years of collaboration and strategic planning,” added Rick Snyder, chairperson of the original SPARK and chief executive officer of Ann Arbor-based Ardesta, LLC. “The synergies that will be generated by combining these two strong organizations resonates well with businesses across an array of industries and stages of life cycle, and provided the catalyst to create Ann Arbor SPARK.”

As part of the merger agreement, Ann Arbor SPARK named its new Board of Directors as well as its Executive Committee. The Ann Arbor SPARK Board of Directors will meet annually to determine the organization’s policies and strategic direction; its Executive Committee, comprised of 12 local leaders, will meet monthly to provide operational direction to Finney and his staff.

Ann Arbor SPARK’s Board of Directors:
Albert M. Berriz, CEO, McKinley
David A. Brandon, chairman and CEO, Dominos, Inc.
Dr. David Canter, senior vice president and director, Michigan Laboratories, Pfizer Global Research & Development
Dr. Mary Sue Coleman, president, University of Michigan
Dr. John A. Fallon III, president, Eastern Michigan University
Robert E. Guenzel, administrator, Washtenaw County
Timothy G. Marshall, president and CEO, Bank of Ann Arbor
Bill Milliken, president, Milliken Realty Company
Rick Snyder, CEO and co-founder of Ardesta, LLC
Dr. Larry Whitworth, president, Washtenaw Community College
Michael A. Finney, president and CEO, Ann Arbor SPARK

Ann Arbor SPARK’s Executive Committee:
Laurel R. Champion, publisher, Ann Arbor News
Gretchen Driskell, Mayor, City of Saline
Professor Steve Forrest, vice president for research, University of Michigan
Roger W. Fraser, city administrator, City of Ann Arbor
Robert E. Guenzel, administrator, Washtenaw County
Michael Korybalski, local development finance authority
Dr. David Mielke, Dean, College of Business, Eastern Michigan University
Bill Milliken, president, Milliken Realty Company
Kenneth Nisbet, director, University of Michigan Tech Transfer and chairman of the Ann Arbor IT Zone
Dr. Edward Pagani, senior director and head of Strategic Alliances for Pfizer Global R&D in Michigan, and president of MichBio
David Parsigian, partner, Miller, Canfield, Paddock & Stone
Rick Snyder, CEO and co-founder of Ardesta, LLC
Michael A. Finney, president and CEO, Ann Arbor SPARK

As part of the creation of Ann Arbor SPARK, current staff levels will be maintained with plans to add new positions over the coming year as it expands its services. Ann Arbor SPARK plans to introduce new services to attract business to the region and promote growth of companies starting in the region, including pre-seed funding, wet lab incubator services, investor development, and robust business acceleration.

About Ann Arbor SPARK
Ann Arbor SPARK is the driving force in establishing the Ann Arbor region as a destination for business expansion and location by identifying and meeting the needs of business at every stage, from startups to large organizations looking for additional expansion opportunities. Ann Arbor SPARK represents all communities in the Washtenaw County. For more information, please call (734) 761-9317 or visit www.AnnArborSPARK.org.