CONVERGE
News and Notes from around The Park
June 28, 2021 | Issue 5
East Alabama Health cuts ribbon on Auburn Medical Pavilion

On June 4th, East Alabama Health, formerly East Alabama Medical Center held a ribbon cutting ceremony for their new medical facility in Auburn Research Park.

Speakers included East Alabama Health President and CEO, Laura Grill, Mayor Ron Anders of Auburn, and Auburn University President, Jay Gogue, among others.

Jim Weyhenmeyer, Auburn University's vice president for research and economic development, offered remarks as well noting that the facility would provide faculty and students more opportunities to engage in biomedical research. “This is an opportunity to really think about how we might cross-pollinate between the university and this medical pavilion. If we do not take advantage of that, shame on us for not doing that. From my perspective, really what has come out of the ground, if you will, in this space, is not only impressive, but it will have an incredible impact on the community.” 

Located at 900 Camp Auburn Road, the $33.7 million Auburn Medical Pavilion is home to a Freestanding Emergency Department (1st floor), the East Alabama Ambulatory Surgery Center (2nd floor, opening late Summer 2021) and the Breast Health Center (3rd floor, opening late Fall 2021). The Freestanding Emergency Department (FED) is accompanied on the first floor by diagnostic radiology services, a laboratory and a pharmacy. A separate retail pharmacy called East Alabama Apothecary is also located on the first floor.
Auburn Medical Pavilion now providing emergency services

The East Alabama Medical Center Freestanding Emergency Department—part of the Auburn Medical Pavilion in Auburn Research Park—began operation on Wednesday, June 23 at 7 a.m. The 12-bed, Level III trauma center offers patients another option for emergency services in the region, joining the emergency departments at East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika and EAMC-Lanier in Valley.

The new freestanding emergency department (FED) is located at 900 Camp Auburn Road, at the new entrance to The Park near the intersection of Shug Jordan Parkway and South College Street in Auburn. The FED is located on the first floor of the building and is joined on that floor by diagnostic radiology services, a laboratory and a pharmacy for use with emergency patients. Outpatient radiology and laboratory services will also be available Monday through Friday as will a retail pharmacy (East Alabama Apothecary.)

“It is so exciting to extend our emergency services into the Auburn area to better serve our communities,” said Amy Brandon, East Alabama Health Emergency Department executive director. “This campus will also provide level-three trauma care with the same skilled physicians, nurses, and support staff as our other two emergency department campuses in Opelika and Valley. We are thankful for this beautiful facility in Auburn that provides 12 additional exam rooms to our service.”

The FED has an ambulance bay as well as a helicopter landing pad. In addition, sexual assault victims may seek special care here through the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) program.

Alabama Upstarts feature startups from Auburn's New Venture Accelerator

Alabama Upstarts, available on Alabama Public Television, is a platform for entrepreneurs and inventors to pitch their ideas to venture capitalists. Contestants vie for a chance to win $1,000 from sponsors Mercedes Benz of Dothan and former Dothan Mayor, Mike Schmitz. Viewers, who get an inside look at Alabama's rapidly growing startup community, may have noticed that businesses from the New Venture Accelerator in The Park are making regular appearances.

This episode from season one features Lydia Pass of Stelona Shoes as well as Hunter Hinote from Feed Me.
At this time, Stelona Shoes is looking for assistance to take their next step forward. Interested in making an investment in the state's economy? Check out this GoFundMe.
New Venture Accelerator team, SwiftSku, earns top prize at Rice Business Plan Competition

Mit Patel and Daniel Mazur, Auburn mechanical engineering students, are building the operating system for the $650 billion convenience store industry through their mobile application, SwiftSku. After a recent $446,000 triumph from the 2021 Rice Business Plan Competition, Patel and Mazur have transformed the symbiotic relationship between c-store owners, consumers and brands.

The Rice Business Plan Competition, the largest and richest student startup competition, has provided mentorship, guidance and capital for 21 years to support students' entrepreneurial journey.

The 2021 virtual competition featured four days of elevator pitches and three finalist rounds. The competition included 54 startups. It was the first time Auburn University has swept the floor in awards at the global competition.

SwiftSku was awarded the $350,000 GOOSE Capital Investment Grand Prize, the $50,000 Business Angel Minority Association Investment Prize, the $25,000 RG Advisory Partners’ CFO Consulting Prize, the digital category of the Mercury Fund Elevator Pitch Competition and third place in the Anbarci Family People’s Choice Awards.

Patel and Mazur, childhood friends, recognized the need to remove the guesswork from running convenience stores, allowing c-stores to compete with big-box retailers. Patel’s familial c-store upbringing allowed familiarity with the industry.

Patel’s parents, immigrants from India, saved for years to purchase a convenience store. Familiar with overseeing the inventory, price-book management, reporting and accounting, Patel also played the role of translator between his parents and vendors.

“My story isn’t an outlier either,” Patel explained during the final round of the Rice Alliance Business Plan Competition. “This is the story of the tens of thousands of convenience stores in America owned by families like mine.”

READ THE REST of Alyssa Turner's piece on SwiftSku and catch them on Auburn's College of Engineering Podcast #GINNing.
A Conversation with Mark Liles

Mark Liles is the Marguerite Scharnagel Endowed Professor in biological sciences at Auburn, Co-founder and President of Varigen Biosciences Corporation, and a central member of The Park community. Earlier this year, Professor Liles chatted with CONVERGE about his research activity--particularly the applied research that has been successfully commercialized. Our conversation was the story behind the story, touching on lessons-learned and the need to connect not only with colleagues in other disciplines, but with stakeholders as well.


In the second part of our conversation, Liles discusses the founding of Varigen Biosciences and the value working and partnering in Auburn Research Park.


Honoring Entrepreneurship: Fifty-eight Auburn alumni-owned or led businesses earn 2021 Top Tiger awards

Auburn University and the Harbert College of Business recently honored 58 businesses for exceptional growth, revenue and entrepreneurial spirit. In its seventh year, “Top Tiger” honorees are among the fastest-growing companies founded, owned, or led by Auburn University alumni.

Co-sponsored by the Harbert College and Warren Averett CPAs and Advisors, the compounded annual growth rates for nominees were measured over a three-year period and ranked according to total revenue and operations in a manner consistent with the Auburn Creed.

Top Tiger honorees for 2021 are: 30A Luxury Vacations, 3-GIS, Airship, Auburn Flowers and Gifts, B&B Beverage Management, Bell Media, BMSS, Bridgeworth Wealth Management, Building & Earth Sciences, Columbia Care, Dalton Drug Company, Edmonds Engineering, eHire, Elkanah Contractors, First Hartford Bancshares, Inc., Fite Building Company, Fulcrum Construction, Gio Architectural Tile & Stone, Interior Elements, Jackson Thornton, Kelley & Mullis Wealth Management, Lake Homes Realty, Lavender, Martinfederal Consulting, MCM Technology, Method Mortgage, Move & Store, Newline Interactive. Noah’s Animal Hospitals, Oakworth Capital Bank, Park & Eleazer Construction, Pearce Services, Progress Bank, Rabren General Contractors, Regulatory Solutions, Richter Landscape Company, RPF Emergency Services, Safespray Pest Control, Scott Contracting, Sea Wire and Cable, Simulations Plus, Sitemix, Smarterservices, Southern Financial Group, Star Discount Pharmacy & Market, Stone Martin Builders, Strategic Tax and Accounting, Summit Salon Business Center, Taylor Workshop, The Boyd Companies, Torch Technologies, Troy Rhone Garden Design, Truitt Insurance & Bonding, U.S. Asset Management, Veritas, Wingfield Scale Company, Inc., WRD, Inc./Timber Products Inspection, Wren Solutions.

Congratulations to all the 2021 Top Tigers!
The Park at Auburn is a gateway to university expertise and a key reason organizations choose to join our community.

Auburn researchers have expertise in everything from cybersecurity to health science, to financial markets, to supply chain management and beyond.

In a special series produced by Auburn's Office of Communication and Marketing, faculty experts offer their thoughts and answers on a variety of real-world topics as they make national headlines.
This week, for example, Professor Casey Cegielski (above) weighs in on ransomware protection and who is most vulnerable.


To read more articles like this one, featuring Auburn's world-class faculty:
Bio Alabama Leadership Visits The Park

BIO Alabama is the leading advocate for Alabama's bioeconomy. They represent the state on a national and international stage, promoting the intellectual and innovative capital that make Alabama a premier place to invest, start, and grow in bioscience.

As part of her ongoing listening tour, Bio Alabama's new executive director Dr. Rachel Lane visited The Park recently and had the opportunity to hear from Auburn experts and innovators in the biosciences.
Above: From L-R, Troy Brady from Auburn's office of Innovation Advancement and Commercialization, Rachel Lane, executive director, BioAlabama, and Bill Dean, executive director, Auburn Research and Technology Foundation

Below: Assistant Professor in chemical engineering, Dr. Symone Alexander, flanked by her colleagues from the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, describes her work to representatives from Bio Alabama.
Staff Spotlight
Barbara Norrell

Barbara Norrell is the Director of The Park's new event center, 540 at The Park.

A long-time Auburn employee, Barbara is a veritable Swiss Army Knife of skills ranging from audio-visual expertise to event planning and everything in between.

In 2020, she was asked to launch and run an event space in the new Research and Innovation Center in The Park. Asking someone to open a cool new gathering spot for the university and the community during a pandemic is a tall order, but Barbara was all in.
Promising Auburn startup, Vulcan Line Tools wins $25,000 in Alabama Launchpad Competition

Started in 2006, Alabama Launchpad is the state’s most active early-stage seed fund investor, driving innovation and job growth through startup competitions and ongoing mentoring for Alabama entrepreneurs.

Successful startups for the first cycle of 2021 included concept stage winner Vulcan Line Tools who received $25,000.

“Being involved in this competition means so much to me, and I’ve made so many great connections along the way. I can’t speak highly enough about the Launch Advisors and everyone else involved in the program—they truly care about you as an individual, and want to do everything they can to make you successful. This money will help Vulcan Line Tools continue to make great products, and I’m incredibly excited for what the future holds.”
Zac Young, President and Founder, Vulcan Line Tools
Summer's here!
It's time to get moving and the Paths at The Park are a perfect place to start.

This summer, we are pleased to introduce a group of named walking/running paths along with related events and programming called, Paths at The Park. Our goal is to encourage members of The Park community to take full advantage of our beautiful setting and to create opportunities for people to get out there, get moving, and get to know each other.
 
We identified three paths that take advantage of existing sidewalks and of Old Camp Auburn Road. Each path starts and ends in front of the Research and Innovation Center at 540 Devall Drive.

With input from The Park community, the paths were given names that speak to elements of discovery and innovation.
The first path, Nova, is a short one. At .5 miles, it's ideal for a quick break in the work day. Begin in front of the Research and Innovation Center, follow Devall Drive to our College Street entrance and return.
The second path, Venture, is 1 mile and takes users past the new Auburn Medical Pavilion. Begin at the Research and Innovation Center, follow Devall Drive to Camp Auburn Road. Take a right on Camp Auburn Road and follow it through the new roundabout to our entrance off of Shug Jordan and return.
 
The third path, Quest, is 1.5 miles and takes users in a large loop utilizing Old Camp Auburn Road. Begin at the Research and Innovation Center, follow Devall Drive to Camp Auburn Road. Take a right on Camp Auburn Road and follow it to our new roundabout. At the roundabout, take a right onto Old Camp Auburn Road. Old Camp Auburn Road is a dirt road winding through the campus forest and emerging onto Woodfield Drive near the Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) pond and walking trail. If you would like to add an additional .26 miles to your walk, take a quick loop around the VCOM trail before taking a right on Woodfield. Follow Woodfield to Donahue Drive. Take a right on Donahue for a short walk to the entrance to The Park at Devall Drive. Take a right on Devall and return to the Research and Innovation Center.

Here are a couple of things to bear in mind. There are two similarly named roads--Camp Auburn Road and Old Camp Auburn Road. Old Camp Auburn Road is the one that is unpaved.

Additionally, keep in mind that while Old Camp Auburn Road is absolutely driveable and walkable, it is dirt and takes you through wooded areas that are home to local wildlife (like snakes). So, keep your eyes peeled!
While you're keeping an eye out for critters, be on the look out for Paths at The Park signage as well. In the weeks to come we'll be adding signs at our start/finish points as well as directional signs and distance markers to keep you on track and headed in the right direction.
CONVERGE: News and Notes
from around The Park is a 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.

Our goal is to highlight innovative activity in The Park and on campus, and link you to resources that may be useful to your organization.

One such resource is Auburn's Office of Inclusion and Diversity, headed by Dr. Taffye Clayton, Associate Provost and Vice President for Inclusion and Diversity. In May, Dr. Clayton visited The Park for a conversation about the benefits of creating an environment that acknowledges and affirms differences at all levels.

Auburn University recognizes and values the considerable educational benefits emanating from diversity, just as the Association of University Research Parks and The Park at Auburn recognize the benefits to entrepreneurship and innovation that occur when people of diverse backgrounds work together to solve complex problems.

Dr. Clayton and her team are the gateway to programming and resources that can help organizations foster a community that values diversity, share best practices for success, and help unlock the great benefits that diversity brings to problem solving. To learn more about strengthening alliances that support diversity, equity and inclusion, visit Auburn's Office of Inclusion and Diversity.

Pictured below:
Dr. Taffye Clayton in conversation with the staff of the Auburn Research and Technology Foundation as well as the Office of Innovation Advancement and Commercialization about opportunity and equity.
Thank you for checking out this issue of CONVERGE. You can stay up to date between issues by following us on Facebook, LinkedIn, 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's new brick and mortar location is now open in the 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, the café has recently expanded its menu to include tacos, taco bowls, quesadillas and nachos.

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