Tallahassee People on the Move

FSU Hires Business Liaison to Facilitate Industry Partnerships

Florida State University is redoubling its efforts to commercialize faculty research and partner with businesses across the country that can benefit from the intellectual capital available at a top-tier research university.

As a key part of these efforts, the FSU Office of Research has hired Mike Campbell as the university’s first Chief Business and Industry Liaison, a position designed to develop partnerships between the university and companies. University tech transfer offices typically start with researchers and their work, and one important innovation in this position will be tackling the partnership from the opposite end — working with companies to discover and meet their needs.

“Innovation can happen in many corners of the university,” said Interim Vice President for Research Laurel Fulkerson. “We know that there are many researchers here who would benefit from partnerships with the brightest minds in business, and that there are also many businesses that could succeed with help from our faculty. The key is bringing them together, and I am thrilled that we now have someone solely focused on that.”

Prior to joining the FSU Office of Research, Campbell served as the Director of North Florida Operations for The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship for more than nine years where he helped CEOs and business owners grow their companies. Campbell also has more than 18 years of experience in the financial industry and is the former owner of two successful businesses.

Campbell will report to Director of Commercialization Brent Edington. The Office of Commercialization is responsible for licensing faculty member research to commercial entities.

First Commerce Credit Union CEO Cecilia Homison Elected to Credit Union National Association Board of Directors

First Commerce Credit Union CEO Cecilia Homison has been elected by her peers to serve on the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) Board of Directors, representing District 3, Class B. CUNA has long been recognized as the most influential financial services trade association advocating on behalf of America’s credit unions and their 120+ million members. District 3, Class B encompasses credit unions with memberships between 38,000 and 141,000 located in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Homison was also recently appointed to CUNA’s Advocacy Committee for a one-year term beginning January 1, 2022. The Advocacy Committee advises CUNA staff and provides policy recommendations to the board regarding advocacy issues affecting the credit union movement.

“Serving on CUNA’s Board of Directors and the Advocacy Committee have been long-term career goals of mine and I consider it a privilege to serve in these capacities,” Homison said. “I look forward to working with leaders across the nation to support and advance the credit union movement. I believe our industry has tremendous opportunities to continue the incredible work we do to strengthen the communities we serve.”

Pennington, P.A. Announces Newest Shareholders

Pennington, P.A. is pleased to announce its newest Shareholders – Stuart Poage and Chase Boswell. Stuart has twenty-two years of civil litigation experience. He is board certified as a specialist in construction law by the Florida Bar and regularly mediates personal injury, construction, and first-party property disputes as a Florida Circuit Court mediator and panel arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

Chase has been a part of Pennington’s team for many years and will continue to focus his practice on the defense of claims involving medical/dental malpractice, products liability, premises liability, automobile negligence, corporate and business matters, and employment litigation.

Pennington also announced its newly elected Board of Directors and Officers for 2022: Adrienne Love, President; Brandice Dickson, Chief Financial Officer; Gene Adams, Secretary; and Board members: Ben Andrews, Jerry Bryant, William Horgan, Wiley Horton, Susan Spurgeon and Mike Thomas.