I have enjoyed working with the Regional (Laboratories) over the past four years as the Regional Coordinator. There have been some positive changes made in strengthening, the Regional Labs' presence on the Internet. The database information now linked to each lab will ensure an international presence and hopefully increase technology transfer opportunities for all the ORTAs.

The outreach program, Core 21 Project, brought opportunities for the Laboratories to work with academia. The ongoing outreach program, Federal Resource Access Program (FRAP) will continue to match the needs of companies in the metropolitan areas of Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix and Tucson with the resources of the laboratories. We are working with the Department of Commerce to coordinate the feedback from the surveys. I strongly encourage all ORTAs to use the survey in identifying partnership opportunities in their areas of interest. The survey will help pin point the marketing potential for individual ORTAs by targeted area and location. The survey is available to download from the FW Internet site: http://www.zyn.com/flcfw/

We are in the process of making a CD-ROM card for the Region. The card will be used to market the FLC FW Region's service. The card will also be a useful tool for all ORTAs and FLC Participants to review the FLC structure and the FW's capabilities.

Unfortunately with the recent terrorist activities and the challenges facing the United States government the decision has been made to not have a regional meeting in the last quarter of the 2001 calendar year. The region will focus on collocating the Regional meeting and training program with the National SBIR Conference in Anaheim, CA March 11-14, 2002. Prior collocation with the National SBIR conferences has provided national visibility for the region and furnished our laboratories opportunities for technology marketing and the development of partnerships with motivated small high tech business clients.

The call for candidates for the positions of Regional Coordinator and Deputy Regional Coordinator has gone out. As a laboratory representative if you have not received this call for nominations via mail and e-mail, please contact Del DelaBarre at del@dbamlg.com. The voting process will take place in December. The election procedures and process will be coordinated by DelaBarre & Associates, Inc. (DBA, Inc.). Call 360-681-6144 or email del@dbamlg.com if you have any questions.

I want to express my sincere thanks to every ORTA in the region for working with me and providing support, suggestions and feedback on the Regional projects. I also want to thank our Regional support contractor DelaBarre & Associates, Inc. for their timely and professional support. I wish all of you continued success and hope that the FLC will continue to provide the type of service that will make your job easier and enhance your performance in meeting your facility's technology transfer objectives.

Lastly to the incoming regional officers I want you to know that you can count on my support during the transition period and in the future. Additionally the Regional support contract final year option has been approved for the next fiscal year with DelaBarre & Associates, Inc. which will help provide program continuity for the new officers.

Dr. Mike Sullivan
Email: sullivanme@navair.navy.mil