CONVERGE
News and Notes from around The Park
December 3, 2020 | Issue 2
Turning The Page
Since its inception, Auburn Research Park has been home to an entrepreneurial ecosystem, a place where tech and knowledge-based businesses are developed. Recent significant investment in the Park has allowed us to expand both our physical and programmatic footprint--positioning us for growth and propelling us into a new era of innovation.

To transition successfully to this new and more commercially robust era, it was critical to set forth a strategic plan that was comprehensive, yet flexible, that built on our unique assets, but simultaneously introduced novel processes for managing and inspiring innovation.

The recently completed ARTF and Park Strategic Plan sets an aggressive course that will enable the extraordinary researchers here at Auburn and among our partners to create bold, next-generation solutions for the state, the region and beyond. We look forward to welcoming both campus and community members to join us as we turn the page and begin an exciting era of discovery together.

Read more about the ARTF and Park Strategic Plan. 
Ready to Soar:
The New Venture Accelerator

Auburn's young entrepreneurs have a new home. The New Venture Accelerator offers 7,000 square feet of office space dedicated to students, faculty and community members focused on startups, learning how to create business models, pitching to investors--and space for multiple mentors who will guide them along the path. This sleek, collaborative environment--where business plans are crafted and dreams will be realized--is jointly managed by the Harbert College of Business and Auburn Research and Technology Foundation.

“This new space gives us a place where we can foster innovation, help students develop their ideas, prepare them for pitches and help them take what they have learned and translate it into successful business ventures,” said Lou Bifano, Director of Entrepreneurship Strategy at Auburn University. “We will have space dedicated to teams that can work privately, space for teams to work together, and individual office spaces for Entrepreneurs in Residence, Scott McGlon and Phil Fraher, who work closely with our teams in developing their business plans and concepts.” 


A Winning Combination:
Dr. Michael Zabala and
the New Venture Accelerator

Michael Zabala, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the Ginn College of Engineering, and a team of engineering graduate students have developed XO Armor Technologies--3-D printing that provides highly customized protective sports equipment. Experts in the New Venture Accelerator are helping Dr. Zabala bring his products to market.

"We feel like we’re pretty good at what we do, but what we don’t do or what we don’t have experience in is developing a business plan, a pitch deck, or understanding the financials,” he said. “The benefit is having a centralized location for us all and having access to many experts in the field of business. The New Venture Accelerator is a place to go where we can have consultation from people who know a lot more about certain parts of a running business than we do,” Zabala remarked.

Learn more about how Dr. Zabala and his team are "Printing Protection". Check out the video below or read more here.
As part of Auburn's "Together We Will" Initiative, members of the Auburn family are uniting as one to promote diversity and inclusion. Here, the team behind The Park at Auburn shows off their Unity T's.
Welcome to
540 at The Park
Auburn's Newest Event Center

From black tie, to business casual, you bring the vision, we'll handle the rest. 540 at The Park is an executive meeting and event center in the heart of Auburn’s research park immediately adjacent to campus. Elegantly appointed, versatile spaces create an atmosphere of comfort and productivity for sessions of any size or focus. State-of-the-art audio and visual systems and exceptional on-site catering by Amsterdam Café at The Park make 540 at The Park the perfect location for your next meeting of the minds.

Our two well-equipped spaces offer everything your organization needs to gather in an atmosphere of comfort and productivity. The Devall Room and The Boardroom may be used separately or paired for a larger meeting space.


At almost 1,800 square feet, The Devall Room is ideal for larger meetings or receptions. Socially distanced set-ups are available, and multiple monitors make presentations easy to view from anywhere in the room. Webcams and microphones are easily accessible throughout, making The Devall Room an excellent location for video conferencing.


The Boardroom seats 22 at an executive-style table, with additional seating available along the walls. As in The Devall Room, the 580-square-foot Boardroom features cutting-edge audio and visual systems developed specifically for the space with an eye toward creating an exceptional meeting experience.


CONVERGE: News and Notes
from around The Park is a newly created publication from Auburn Research Park. CONVERGE aims to connect with members of The Park community and in turn, help them connect with one other and with university expertise.

In the weeks to come, we'll highlight innovative activity in The Park and on campus and link you to resources that may be useful to your organization--resources like Joel Jones and Dawn deGraffenried Jones of Kassouf & Co., PC.

Located in Building 570, Kassouf & Co are certified public accountants and trusted advisors who specialize in financial planning and business strategies across a range of services including business and personal tax expertise, wealth management and personal financial planning, estate and gift planning, business and personal tax planning and compliance, healthcare consulting, medical practice management, retirement plan administration, outsourced CFO services, and client accounting services. Joel teaches several tax courses through the University’s Accounting and Tax Training Institute (OPCE) and has offered a series of business and tax presentations to interested groups. Joel and Dawn have graciously offered to partner with The Park to provide Lunch-and-Learn opportunities when it's safe for us to gather again, and in the meantime, would be happy to include members of The Park community in Zoom presentations going forward. If you'd like to be notified of Zoom learning opportunities with Kassouf, drop Dawn an email at djones@kassouf.com. Last but not least, be sure to check out Kassouf's Newsletter here.

As a community, we are entering a new chapter in the life of Auburn Research Park. Investments in people, programming, facilities and infrastructure are transforming The Park into the vibrant ecosystem envisioned more than ten years ago by its founders. Thank you for writing this new chapter with us.

Stay up to date by following us on Facebook and Instagram and by keeping an eye out for us in your inbox.

Thank you, again, for your role in making the Park the place where innovation begins,

Leslie Chapman
334.844.6147
Amsterdam Cafe at the Park Open for Business
Long-time, local-favorite Amsterdam Café, has opened a location in the newly-completed Research and Innovation Center at 540 Devall Drive. Located on the first floor, Amsterdam Café at the Park offers opportunities for safe, socially-distant indoor and outdoor dining, as well as online ordering and pick-up. Currently open from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday for lunch, the café plans to extend its hours in the weeks to come in order to offer breakfast as well.  Ample free parking available. Auburn University parking permits not required.

In a hurry? Order Online or call: 334-209-6397
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