PTRP Names New Head

Eric Tomlinson has been named both President and Chief Innovation Officer of the Piedmont Triad Research Park.  According to information from other sources reporting on Mr. Tomlinson appointment, such as the Winston-Salem Journal, the News Release from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, and the Triad Biz Journal, Mr. Tomlinson is an experienced scientist and CEO with a special emphasis on bringing new products to market and will accordingly oversee all research and commercialization efforts.

Forsyth County OKs Inmar Incentives; Baptist Economic Contribution Calculated at $3.8 Billion

Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center's economic impact on the area has been estimated at $3.8 billion/year in a study they commissioned.  The Center includes both Wake Forest Baptist Health (the Hosptial and affiliates) and Wake Forest University Health Sciences (research and teaching).  The $3.8 billion includes both their direct ($1.9 billion in revenue in 2011) and indirect impact - such as job creation from their support services and the jobs created by the money their employees spend.  In addition to their workforce of 13,588 full- and part-time employees (they are the largest employer in the county) the study estimated that the Medical Center created another 16,500.  A copy of the report can be found here.

In other news, Forsyth County approved the $1.05 million in incentives sought by Inmar Inc. as the company decides to invest $62 million and 212 high-paying jobs here or take that investment, those jobs, and the existing 761 jobs elsewhere.  The company complained about finding good talent in the area in their last expansion; the County vote approving the incentives was unanimous.