Russ Cross, an Ames businessman and president of the Ames chapter of Norwest Bank, has taken over as the chairman of the Iowa State Research Park Board of Directors.

Cross said this is the beginning of his second year with the board of directors for the park. He said he feels the opportunity presented to him is something he will enjoy.

“The park currently has 30 companies, which employ over 750 people in the Ames community,” he said.

Out of all the companies, Iowa State’s engineering animation department is the biggest tenant in the park.

The department is a nationally known company and was created by Iowa State’s faculty and students in 1989.

Cross also said he is responsible for directing the leadership of the Research Park as chairman of the board. He said he will try to initiate policy and direction in a number of areas.

He said during his time at the park he has seen the board work hard make improvements to the Research Park. Cross said the park is not just a project, but a number of projects put into one.

The goal of the entire project is to take technology developed at Iowa State and direct it into the business world, he said.

Direction is the key in starting the new year because the board is facing many new additions, Cross said.

The new members of the Research Park Board of Directors will serve through 1999. They include Robert DeWaay, executive vice president of Banker’s Trust, Des Moines; Dr. Marvin Johnson, owner and director of the Animal Medical Clinic, Des Moines; Kim Russell, president and CEO of the Mary Greeley Medical Center, Ames; Carol Bradley, director of governmental relations at ISU; Murray Blackwelder, vice president for external affairs at ISU; Jim Melsa, dean of the College of Engineering, ISU; Ben Allen, dean of the ISU College of Business; and Ellen Rasmussen, assistant provost at ISU.

“Our board is full of extremely talented individuals, both from the university and the public sector. All those involved are committed to continuing the growth of the park,” Cross said.

In the first half of the year, the board members will select a new director and develop another multi-tenant building. This is a key priority for the members of the board and it involves Phase II of the project, Cross said.

“The future looks bright for increasing the number of companies and employees at the park,” Cross said.