Steven V. Hase, director of business development and the Institute Conference Center for the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, is resigning to take a senior position with Imagine Schools.

Steven V. Hase, director of business development and the Institute Conference Center, is resigning his position at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research. Hase has accepted a senior position with Imagine Schools, an employee-owned organization that provides leadership, financing, curricula and other operating services to elementary and secondary schools nationwide. Hase will remain with the institute through March in preparation for initial conference activities and inaugural year planning.

“I have been offered a rare opportunity to pursue a lifelong dream: creating sustainable enterprises in impoverished areas, and offering at-risk youth and their families a viable education alternative,” said Hase in a letter to his coworkers.

In his tenure with the institute, Hase tackled many hurdles in order to get the Institute Conference Center off the ground. He helped to orchestrate the sales and operations organization that is capable of delivering the kind of conference services consistent with the institute’s bold vision. Hase was instrumental in laying the groundwork for the alliance of Danville area hotels and motels that will service the conference center’s overnight guests. He also helped to bring catering to the institute, creating a full-service venue capable of successfully competing with the finest conference facilities in the region.

Ever positive and uplifting, Hase constantly pushed his colleagues to greater heights. He leaves his imprint in the form of strategic conference, business and marketing plans and in the talented conference staff and sales team currently assembled at the institute

In addition to community and regional outreach, Hase played an integral role in firming the research commitments and entrepreneurial efforts at the institute. “Our business development efforts in the research areas are just now beginning to gather some momentum,” said Hase. “I will truly miss the opportunity to see these early seeds grow into prolific enterprises of their own.”

“Steve Hase has been an outstanding contributor in the very important formative time for the institute as an organization, for the Institute Conference Center as an enterprise, in making the community aware of the institute’s programs, and in initiating a robust business development vision,” said Dr. Timothy V. Franklin, executive director of the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research.

With Hase’s departure, the institute will begin a national search for his successor. “We intend to search for a replacement who can bring a similar level of passion to managing successful enterprises such as the conference center, who shares Steve’s passion for transforming research and intellectual property into new commercial ventures that result in more and better jobs for this region,” said Franklin. “While we regret he will not be with us for a long, long time, the institute and I greatly appreciate the professionalism and abilities that Steve has offered while he was with us.”

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research’s mission is to develop and attract technology and talent critical to Southside Virginia's economic transformation through advanced learning, strategic research and technology transfer, IALR Conference Center activities, IALR outreach programs, and technology infrastructure development. The IALR will leverage the resources of Virginia Tech in partnership with Danville Community College, Averett University, and regional public and private organizations.

IALR is part of a comprehensive strategy for Southside Virginia supported by Outreach and International Affairs at Virginia Tech. The institute will move into its new quarters at 150 Slayton Avenue, Danville, in March 2004

For information regarding position openings, please see our website: www.ialr.vt.edu