The Iowa Manufacturing Technology Center (MTC) now has a new interim director. Tom Noble has been appointed the new director by Stan Johnson, the vice provost for extension at Iowa State. Noble was appointed with the approval of the National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Noble is replacing Del Shepard who was interim director since 1993. Shepard stepped down from his position for private reasons, according to a press release. The former director will continue to work with the Iowa State Extension and support Iowa MTC.

In the press release, Johnson said, “I want to express appreciation to Del for the contributions that he has given to the organization and implementation of the programs at the Iowa Manufacturing Technology Center.”

He said Noble is an experienced professional who worked closely with several of ISU’s technology development and technology transfer programs since 1988.

Before he became the interim director of Iowa MTC, Noble was the operations manager. He was also a program manager at the Ames Laboratory at ISU and an associate director of Iowa State’s Center for Advanced Technology and Development.

As interim director for the Iowa Manufacturing Technology Center, Noble said he will oversee the overall management of state-wide programs to benefit small to medium-sized businesses in Iowa.

Iowa MTC provides 24 field agents who work with Iowa businesses to help them compete better with the larger national and international businesses.

Noble said Iowa MTC works with the programs such as the Center for Industrial Research and the Small Business Development Center. These programs work with Iowa MTC to help the smaller businesses.

“We bring all the entities together. We see that the small businesses have access to resources to help them survive with other larger businesses,” Noble said. He added that small firms are often pressed financially.

“These small businesses don’t have time to concern themselves with operational problems,” Noble said.