Former Lucent executive named
to run new technology enterprise center

by Tom Parisi

Looking to start up a new entrepreneurial, technology-related business? Remember the name Jerry Zielinski.

Zielinski wants to meet entrepreneurs who are trying to bring their ideas to the marketplace. Whether you're an NIU researcher, a weekend inventor or a private businessman, Zielinski might be able to help.

NIU has hired the former Lucent Technologies' executive to head up the new West Suburban Technology Enterprise Center, or WESTEC for short. The center is jointly based at the NIU-Naperville campus and DuPage County Technology Park, at the DuPage Airport near West Chicago. Additionally, Christy Snider, the former marketing director for the Illinois Coalition, has been named program manager of WESTEC.

WESTEC is one of eight Illinois Technology Enterprise Corporations (ITECs) across the state. Six of the centers represent new initiatives.

Gov. George Ryan recently tapped NIU to lead the DuPage County ITEC. The university is receiving $350,000 for the project through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (DCCA).

"We want to create an environment in which high-tech start-ups have an opportunity to flourish," DCCA Director Pam McDonough said. "These centers will provide crucial support in areas such as managerial skills, locating financing, product development and marketing."

A consortium of experts from NIU and its ITEC partner, the Illinois Institute of
Technology, will oversee WESTEC's development. Zielinski's appointment as executive director represents a strong start. He brings more than 20 years of experience in technology commercialization at AT&T and Lucent Technologies to his new post.

The 54-year-old Downers Grove resident retired from Lucent a year ago, and since then has been working as a private consultant and teaching at DePaul and Benedictine universities. Zielinski holds a bachelor's degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a master's degree in systems management from the University of Southern California.

"We're thrilled to have Jerry on board," said John Lewis, associate director of the NIU Center for Governmental Studies, who organized the NIU WESTEC proposal. "He brings a vast amount of technology commercialization expertise to our new center in DuPage County."

The mission of WESTEC and its seven counterparts across the state is to assist technology-based start-up businesses and serve as an incubator for high-tech ventures. WESTEC will serve the counties of DuPage, Kane, DeKalb and northern Will, as well as the northwest suburbs.

"I'm really excited about this opportunity," Zielinski said. "This is going to give me a chance to work with researchers in an academic environment to commercialize technology just as I've worked with researchers from the corporate world."

Zielinski said his first order of business is to familiarize himself with research and technology efforts at NIU, IIT and throughout the region. University research often produces innovations, but it can take many years before those innovations reach the marketplace. Technology commercialization aims to speed up that process.

WESTEC also intends to look for new technologies within the private sector.

"We will be working with entrepreneurs in the west suburban community who see the need for support in getting technology-related businesses going," Zielinski said. "For instance, someone may knock on my door and say he or she has a great idea for a tech-based start-up. We will try to counsel them on the viability of the idea in a business sense and then find the support structures needed to help them make it happen."

Zielinski said WESTEC will help innovators find legal, marketing and administrative support. His center also will work to secure funding for start-ups and find management teams that are interested in creating entrepreneurial businesses.

"Our goal is to get some start-ups going as soon as possible," he said.

Zielinski has already moved into his office at the DuPage County Technology Park. Additionally, Snider started with WESTEC last week and will be based at NIU-Naperville.

"I am very pleased to have Christy Snider on the team as program manager," Zielinski said. "Christy has a strong background in economic development and her experience as director of marketing and community relations at the Illinois Coalition provides us with valuable insight on technology commercialization programs."

Snider said she is excited about her new post.

"I am looking forward to helping western suburban start-ups acquire additional funding and realize their goal of commercializing technology," said Snider, of Glen Ellyn. "I feel this is tremendous opportunity for the region, NIU and the State of Illinois."

Entrepreneurs seeking more information on WESTEC can e-mail Zielinski at Gzielinski@niu.edu.

For information on Illinois Technology Enterprise Corporations, see DCCA press releases at http://www.commerce.state.il.us/news_airline.html.