Oregon BEST hires commercialization program lead
By Christina Williams
Sustainable Business Oregon editor
The Oregon Built Environment and Sustainable Technologies Center, known as Oregon BEST, announced Thursday it hired a product development executive to lead the group's commercialization program.
Ken Vaughn, who has a 25-year career working in renewable energy, real estate development and mobile phones, will become Oregon BEST's commercialization program manager.
Most recently, Vaughn was vice president of marketing and product management for Jadoo Power, a Folsom, Calif., manufacturer of solar and fuel cell products.
"Having Ken on the Oregon BEST team will speed our mission of connecting companies with university researchers to more quickly commercialize research breakthroughs and drive Oregon’s green economy,” said David Kenney, president and executive director of Oregon BEST, in a press release.
Oregon BEST launched its commercialization grant program in 2010. The larger commercialization program is made up of the grants and technical expertise designed to accelerate the process of bringing products to market.
Four companies shared $250,000 in commercialization grants in 2011 including Indow Windows, Trillium FiberFuels, Corvallis Tool Company and Green Lite Motors.
Kenney said commercialization grants for next year will be announced later this month.
Oregon BEST, a nonprofit established by the Oregon Legistlature in 2007 as a signature research center, nurtures green building technology by connecting businesses with university researchers.
@SustainableBzOR | christinawilliams@bizjournals.com |503.219.3438
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