Media Releases

4:45pm – 5:15pm | Visionary Voices: Fireside Chat

Mark Bruso, Senior Research Director, JLL
Spencer Levy, Global Client Strategist & Senior Economic Advisor, CBRE
Moderator: Beth Bowman, IOM, CCE, President & CEO, Greater Irving-Las Colinas, Chamber of Commerce

3:45pm – 4:30pm | CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS

From Closure to Cluster: Anchoring Innovation After Economic Disruption

Economic disruption is often framed as decline – plant closures, institutional failures, and abandoned land. Yet across the United States, universities, cities and regional leaders have repeatedly transformed these moments of loss into opportunities, seeding research parks and innovation districts that anchor new economic futures. This session will highlight lessons learned and adapting in the face of sudden dislocation.

                    Tracy Shickel, Associate Vice President, Corporate Engagement, University of Delaware
                    Marcel Johnson, Sr. Vice President, Talent & Technology Scouting & Identification, Port San Antonio

High-Impact Areas of Innovation: Case Studies and Toolkits

AOIs worldwide strive for impacts and financial sustainability, but relatively few achieve dramatic growth and become regional engines of prosperity. Come learn from leading global case studies of systematic development, along with a toolkit for achieving rapid economic growth and profound quality-of-place. Featuring insights from world-leading transformation program, MIT REAP;  the Singapore’s One North; and the renowned South-by-Southwest Festival. 

                    Kavan O’Connor, MIT Sloan School of Business, REAP Program
                    Allen Teo, JTC, One North Science Park, Singapore Government
                    Hugh Forrest, Chief Executive Officer, Gather and Grow
                    Moderator: Larry Peterson, Executive Director, Texas Foundation for Innovative Communities

Winning Through Specialization: Sector Strategies for High-Growth Innovation Districts and Research Parks
                    Laura O’Blenis, President & CEO, Stiletto: Make a Point
                    Brendan Sullivan, Director of Strategy, CIC Captains of Innovation 
                    Moderator: Carrie Allen, Managing Partner, CIC Captains of Innovation

2:30pm – 2:15pm | CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Aligning the Innovation Value Chain: How Research, Capital & Real Estate Converge
This panel brings together three leaders representing the full innovation district value chain: municipal economic development (Dallas EDC), innovation campus operations (Pegasus Park), and research enterprise leadership (University of Utah). Moderated by Julie Huls, the discussion examines how federal funding signals, research strengths, and commercialization intelligence can be translated into real estate and tenant strategy – ensuring innovation districts are built on validated research pipelines rather than speculative development. 

                    David Snow, Executive Director, Pegasus Park
                    Linda McMahon, Chief Executive Officer, Dallas Economic Development Corporation
                    Dr. Erin Rothwell, Nice President of Research, University of Utah
                    Moderator: Julie Huls, Founder, InovaSignal.ai

How VPRs Are Shaping the Future of University Research in the Face of AI Transformation 
As AI transforms research administration and discovery across disciplines, VPRs and senior research leaders are rethinking how universities build competitive, responsible research enterprises. This session examines how leaders are adapting operations, supporting researchers, and positioning institutions for an AI-enabled future. Attendees will gain practical insights into evolving priorities, challenges, and opportunities shaping the next era of university research and institutional strategy nationwide. 

                    Mariah McCord, Vice President for Research, Merrimack College
                    Jordan Peterson, Chief Operating Officer, Collaborative Real Estate

Creative Opportunity: Workforce Development Across Education and Innovation Partners
                    Josh Curry, Semiconductor, Purdue University

1:30pm – 2:15pm | MAIN STAGE SESSION

The Innovation Leadership Playbook: Perspectives from Chief Innovation Officers and VPRs
           Daniel Hommes, M.D., PhD, Chief Innovation Officer, Innovation Hub, UT Southwestern
           Ian Mc Clure, J.D., LL.M., Vice President for Innovation, UK HealthCare; Associate Vice President for Research, Innovation and Economic Impact, UL Research
           Scott Shrake, Associate Vice President for Economic Development and Strategic Partnerships, Colorado State University
           Moderator: Kevin Byrne, Chief Executive Officer, The University Financing Foundation

BIO HEALTH CAUCUS TRACK

7:30am – 10:30am | PHARMACEUTICAL FACILITY TOUR
Off Property – Transportation Provided

10:00am – 10:30am | Return to Pegasus Park

11:00am – 11:30am | State Bio Associations
Moderator: Pete Pellerito, BIO (invited)

11:30am – 12:00pm | From Silos to Systems: Accelerating Innovation to Impact through One Health Innovation District
John Stewart, Senior Director, Government Affairs, Elanco
Jacob Denecke, Senior Director, Strategic Facility Initiatives, Purdue University
Kaethe Beck, AVP of Strategic Impact in the Life Sciences, Purdue University
Moderator: Christy Wright, Chief Executive Officer, AgriNovus

12:00pm – 12:30pm | Foundations that Scale: Innovation Campuses and Biomanufacturing Growth
Melissa Roberts Chapmen, President and Regional Innovation Officer, KC BioHub
Spencer Chestnut, Manager, Biologics Strategy Deployment Catalent, Pharma Solutions
Moderator: Ben Wolfe, Dean and CEO, Kansas State University Olathe Innovation Campus

4:15pm – 5:00pm | CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Exploring High-Impact University Innovation Ecosystem Investments with Digital Twin Modeling

This session will demonstrate how a simulated “digital twin” of regional innovation ecosystems can guide programming and asset decisions for research parks and innovation districts. Utilizing an AURP member case study, the session will illustrate how calibrated models replicate historical growth, test alternatives future strategies, and reveal which types of university-linked programs, partnerships, and talent pipelines most strongly drive competitiveness, resilience, and long-run regional impact. 

         Joe Simkins, Principal and Project Director, TEConomy Partners
         Moderator: Deborah Cummings, Principal and Managing Director, TEConomy Partners

Universities as the New Network Epicenter: How Research Parks Can Anchor the AI Infrastructure Economy

Artificial intelligence, advanced research, life sciences, defense innovation, and next-generation economic development will all depend on one increasingly scarce resource: low-latency, resilient, locally interconnected network infrastructure. This panel will explore why university research parks and innovation districts are uniquely positioned to become the new regional epicenters of digital infrastructure through the development of carrier-neutral Internet Exchange Point facilities. This session will provide a practical roadmap for research parks that want to position themselves not only as places where innovation happens, but as the physical places where the region’s digital economy connects. 

         Tonya Witherspoon, Consulting Director, Apprenti
         Hunter Bewby, Co-Founder, IXP.US
         Moderator: Brent Legg, Executive Vice President, Connected Nation & IXP.US

Designing Innovation Ecosystems That Scale

This panel brings together leaders representing three stages of ecosystem development: a mature, high-performing market, a newly activated innovation community, and a region actively designing its future strategy. Together, they will explore how innovation ecosystems are built, where they commonly break down, and what it takes to align stakeholders around measurable outcomes. The discussion will highlight the role of universities as anchor institutions, the importance of accelerator programming as connective infrastructure, and the strategies required to integrate capital, corporate engagement, and global partnerships. Attendees will walk away with actionable frameworks to design and scale innovation ecosystems that drive job creation, attract investment, and strengthen long-term regional competitiveness. 

         Jordan Peterson, Chief Operating Officer, Collaborative Real Estate
         Jon McCarry, Department of Management, Murphy Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
         Shayna Hetzel, Vice President of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC)
         Moderator: Robert Pieroni, Managing Director of Strategic Partnerships & Business Development, gener8tor

3:00pm – 3:45pm | CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS

From Corporate Relations to Regional Competitiveness: Reimagining University Partnerships for Innovation and Growth

Strong university-industry partnerships are essential to advancing innovation and strengthening regional competitiveness. This session brings together insights from NACRO’s updated Corporate Relations Reimagined white paper and leading universities recognized with the 2025 APLY IEP Awards to explore how institutions can build holistic corporate engagement strategies while leveraging research parks and innovation districts as engines of economic growth. Attendees will gain practical frameworks for strengthening corporate partnership, activating university assets and measuring the impact of place-based innovation strategies to drive talent development, commercialization, and regional prosperity. 

         Tammy Eickhoff, Mayo Clinic (NACRO)
         Lisa Tran, Interim Senior Assistant Dean Executive Education; Executive Director, Corporate Engagement & Strategic Partnerships, Cox School of Business, Southern Methodist University
         Chris Rhodes, Executive Director, University of Georgia Innovation District
         Alvaro J. Muniz, Director for Economic Engagement, Association of Public Land Grant Universities
         Marc Gibson, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Economic Development, University of Tennessee

Financing Strategies for Research and Innovation

This session will explore how universities and companies are working together to co-invest in facilities, leverage public-private partnerships, and navigate policy changes to support cutting-edge research and innovation growth across a wide range of institutions. Participants will gain insights in fundamental financing principles using a combination of qualitative and quantitative frameworks, risk-sharing strategies, and best practices for aligning infrastructure development with long-term research and workforce needs and examine how various investments can support sustainable research and innovation within their communities.

         Kevin Byrne, MBA, CPA, President and CEO, The University Financing Foundation
         David Tyndall, Founder and CEO, Collaborative Real Estate

UT Dallas’s Vision for Student Success, Research, and External Impact

Under the leadership of new president Dr. Prabhas Moghe, UT Dallas is launching a bold strategic plan centered on three core pillars: Student Success; Academic and Research Convergence; and External Impact. Founded by Texas Instruments leaders to develop a skilled local engineering workforce, UT Dallas has a long tradition of aligning education with industry needs. This session will highlight how UT Dallas’s renewed focus on these priorities strengthens its impact and reaffirms its founding mission.  

          Dr. Robin Paige, Vice Provost for Academic Success and Innovation, UT Dallas
          Dr. Joseph Pancrazio, Vice President for Research and Innovation, UT Dallas
          Dr. Marc Christensen, Special Advisor for Industry Engagement and Innovation Impact, UT Dallas
          Moderator: Dr. Brian Ten Eyck, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Chief of Staff, UT Dallas

2:00pm – 2:30pm | CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS

From Knowledge Economy to Brain Economy: A New Blueprint for Research Park Success

This panel reframes research parks from real estate-driven knowledge economies to brain economies centered on human and cognitive capital. Using Rowen and Research Triangle Park as case studies, it shows how brain health can be embedded through design, culture, technology, and governance across campuses and districts. Integrating architecture, policy, neuroscience, and data, the session offers a practical framework for measurable, scalable investments that enhance talent attraction, institutional performance, and resilient innovation ecosystems long-term value creation. 

                    Zack Lofton, AICP, CNU A, Sr. Urban Planner, HKS
                    Stephen White, JD, BS, Chief Operating Officer, Accounting Center for Brain Health
                    Mason Ailstock, President & Chief Executive Officer, Rowen Foundation
                    Moderator: Julie Hiromoto, WELL AP, LEED AP, Partner, Director of Integration, HKS

Financing Innovation: Connecting Capital, Commercialization, and Community Impact

This session explores how innovative funding models are accelerating university research commercialization by connecting capital, industry, and community partners. Panelists will highlight strategies that align federal funding, private investment, accelerator programs, and public-private partnerships to move promising technologies from the lab to marketplace. Through practical examples, including the North Carolina’s NCInnovation model, attendees will learn how coordinated capital strategies can de-risk innovation, attract follow-on investment, and drive lasting regional economic impact. 

                    Connor Sitton, JD, Parnter, Head of Operations, FortySix Capital
                    Tracey Poole, JD, Managing Partner, FortySix Capital
                    Chris Wright, Ph.D., Assistant Vice President of Innovation, University of Tulsa
                    Jacob Johnson, Founder, innovosource
                    Linda Hall, Executive Vice President, CFO, NCInnovation

Quantum Computing: Texas-Sized Growth and Workforce Needs
                    Mayor Amir Omar, Richardson Texas
                    Victor Fishman, Executive Director, Texas Research Alliance
                    Brian Rashap, Quantum and Internet of Things Educator, Central New Mexico Community College
                    Brenden Mesch, Collin College Technical Campus

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29TH

7:30am – 12:30pm | MAIN STAGE GENERAL SESSIONS

7:30am-8:00am | Breakfast Fireside Chat
                 Dr. Erwin Gianchandani, Assistant Director for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, U.S. National Science Foundation

8:00am-8:30am | Welcome Remarks
                 David Snow, Executive Director, Pegasus Park
                 Gina Ford, Chief Executive Officer, BIO North Texas
                 Linda McMahon, Chief Executive Officer, Dallas Economic Development Corporation

8:30am-9:00am | Pegasus Park Vision
                 David Snow, Executive Director, Pegasus Park
                 Nicole Small. Chief Executive Officer, Lyda Hill Holdings
                 Linda McMahon, Chief Executive Officer, Dallas Economic Development Corporation
                 Steve Davis, President, J. Small Investments
                 Moderator: Stephen Coulston, Managing Principal, Perkins&Will

9:00am-9:15am | Brain Health Institute
                 Stephen White, JD, BS, Chief Operating Officer, Accounting Center for Brain Health

9:15am-10:00am | Reimagining the Modern Research Park
                 Chris Leary, AIA LEED AP Principal, S+T Practice Leader, HOK
                 Amber Wendland, AIA, AICP, Associate Principal, Ayers Saint Gross
                 Dennis Miller, Senior Vice President and Market Executive, Wexford Science + Technologies
                 Beth O’Neill Maloney, Executive Director, Kendall Square Association
                 Kevin Johnson, AIA, LEED AP< Principal, Ayers Saint Gross
                 Scott Levitan, President & CEO, The Research Triangle Park Foundation

10:00am-10:30am | Break and Water Cooler Tours

10:30am-11:00am | Economic Impact of Innovation Districts
                 Cullum Clark, Director, Economic Growth, Bush Institute

11:00pm-11:30pm | Genesis Mission
                 Leslee Gilbert, Vice President, Van Scoyoc Associates

8:00am – 8:30am | Welcoming Remarks

Speakers:

• David Snow, Executive Director, Pegasus Park
• Gina Ford, CEO, BIO North Texas
• Linda McMahon, CEO, Dallas EDC

12:30 | AURP International Conference Celebration Luncheon

Anniversary celebrations and Awards of Excellence Presentation
5 yrs Pegasus Park * 40 yrs AURP * 250 yrs USA

1:00pm – 4:00pm | LEADERSHIP ROUNDTABLE (additional fee applies)

Milestone Moments of America the Exceptional: Updated Research Park / Innovation District Dataset
This year’s leadership roundtable will explore the trends, milestones and economic forces shaping America’s innovation landscape. Gain fresh insights and engage in thought-provoking discussions that will help you discover what the latest data says about the next chapter of American Innovation.

Erin Koshut, Executive Director, Cummings Research Park
Cullum Clark, Director, Economic Growth, George W. Bush Institute
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