Technical Assistance Program expands, hires new director
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Funding for TAP projects has increased from $1.5 million in the first year to $5.3 million in 2006. The number of TAP employees has doubled from 20 to 40 while the number of companies and health-care providers served has increased from 450 to 550.
To meet this increased demand, TAP has hired a new associate director. Randy Hountz will work directly with companies that seek up to 40 hours of free consultation from Purdue experts on projects related to advanced manufacturing, business management, human resources, information technology and product development. He also will oversee the TAP summer intern program and High Tech Job Fair for Indiana Companies, which will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 25 in the Purdue Memorial Union ballrooms.
"With three new offices recently opening in Fort Wayne, Anderson and Merrillville, and another expected to open in Rising Sun by November, requests for our services are coming in at an unprecedented rate," Hountz said. "More and more companies realize that our faculty here are some of the best throughout the United States. I look forward to helping Indiana businesses draw on their expertise and find potential new employees in our technologically advanced student body."
Hountz said company representatives he recently has met have been complimentary of TAP.
"Companies that have used us and know what we can do have been tickled pink," he said. "We've delivered just what they needed and have been able to save them a significant amount of money."
Hountz will report to TAP director David McKinnis, who will continue to manage Healthcare TAP, a partnership with the Indiana Hospital&Health Association and Purdue's Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering, through which interdisciplinary teams from the College of Engineering and the School of Nursing offer operational improvement assistance to Indiana's 166 hospitals. McKinnis also will continue to oversee the National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership, through which Purdue assists companies seeking work force, energy, quality, productivity and other assessment, educational and implementation services. TAP also serves as a state partner to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.
"Now that Randy is on board, I can direct increased attention to our more recent partnerships with the manufacturing sector and health-care industries," McKinnis said. "I also will play a key role in establishing a TAP office in New Albany and expanding our reach to other areas of the state. I am confident that Randy, with his blend of experience in technology, product development and management, will play a key role in connecting TAP with even more companies and providing timely follow-up services on recently completed projects."
Hountz most recently served as co-director of the product center at International Truck and Engine Corp. in Fort Wayne, Ind. He graduated from Purdue in 1994 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and earned a master's degree from the Krannert Graduate School of Management in 1999.
Writer: Marydell Forbes, (765) 496-7704, mforbes@purdue.edu
Sources: Randy Hountz, (765) 494-0766, rhountz@purdue.edu
David McKinnis, (765) 494-9189, mckinnis@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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