LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 14, 2010) – The University of Kentucky Board of Trustees today approved the appointment of George Ward as the new executive director of the university’s Coldstream Research Campus.
Ward, who has served as a Kentucky commerce cabinet secretary, has 30 years of executive experience in hotel and real estate development, finance and business operations, and government relations.
“We believe that George has all of the qualifications and experience that will be critical to take Coldstream Research Campus to the next level,” said University of Kentucky President Lee T. Todd Jr.
Last year, consultants were hired to update the Coldstream master plan according to UK Vice President for Commercialization & Economic Development Len Heller. Heller and Ward will announce the new long term vision for Coldstream and details on the first phase of development later this year.
“Serving as the executive director of the Coldstream Research Campus fulfils a personal goal to utilize my business and marketing skills and past experience to contribute to Kentucky’s future,” said George Ward. “I consider it an honor to be part of the team that is assisting Dr. Todd in fulfilling UK’s economic development mission as the land-grant institution and economic engine for the Commonwealth.”
Ward, who was president of H&W Management Co. Inc., a regional hotel development and real estate company, for 18 years, was appointed Kentucky State Parks commissioner in 2004 and later served as Kentucky Commerce Cabinet secretary until December 2007. Most recently, he has worked with Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals Inc., an early stage biotech company that relocated to Lexington from Philadelphia, Pa. and is located in UK’s ASTeCC campus incubator. Ward also serves on the board of directors of Commerce Lexington and is a member of the Bluegrass Regional Public Policy Council.
Coldstream Research Campus is currently home to some 55 companies and more than 1,000 employees. The companies at Coldstream include IBM, HP, Embassy Suites Hotel, the UK Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (formerly the UK Livestock Disease Diagnostic Lab), Kentucky’s largest sterile pharmaceutical manufacturing facility Coldstream Laboratories Inc., and other biotech, pharmaceutical, equine-related and service businesses.
Ward has lived in Lexington since 1984. He and his wife, Lorie, have six children, including three children currently enrolled at the University of Kentucky.
