So far, 8 in running for tech park top job

The Little Rock Technology Park Board on Wednesday reviewed eight candidates for park director, but its chairman said the board would accept more applications.

The director will run and market the future technology park to be located on Main Street in downtown. The advertisement for the positions lists no salary range.

The applicants so far are:

James Benham of Little Rock, president and chief executive officer of Candy Bouquet International.

Brent Birch of Little Rock, director of FLEX360 Web Development Firm and chief information officer at Arkansas Business Publishing Group.

Paulo C. De Miranda, who works on software development for several businesses in South America and has previous experience at technology parks in Brazil.

Greg Hogue of Little Rock, business development leader at Targetsmart Communications in Washington, D.C.

David Moody, principal and founder of Jacksson David LLC, who spent 10 years at NASA as a program analyst, aerospace consultant and senior program analyst.

Rudy Ortiz of Scott, a business and technology consultant at the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center.

Brian Rogers of Jonesboro, since 2010 the director of intellectual property and the Catalyst Innovation Accelerator at Arkansas State University.

Scott Shellabarger of North Little Rock, an information technology manager at NovaSys Health.

Board members met for less than an hour in executive session to discuss the applicants. Board Chairman Mary Good said the meeting netted no selections and that the board will continue to accept applications. Board member Jay Chessir, president and chief executive officer of the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce, said he will get permission from the applicants to check their references.

Consideration of a director comes at the same time the board’s real estate consultant, Jeff Yates - managing partner at Ark Commercial and Investment Real Estate - said he is narrowing the list of potential properties he will recommend that the board acquire for the park.

He has reviewed more than a dozen properties and met with their owners, and has two more properties to review, Yates said. He soon will be ready to negotiate with owners of potential sites and could have a recommendation on one or more properties by June. His goal is to find a combination of developed and undeveloped property totaling 500,000 square feet, the minimum amount set by the board.

Also Wednesday, the board voted to enter into a lease with MIMG XXIX Block 2 LLC for 7,968 square feet of ground floor space at 107 E. Markham St. to use until the rest of the property for the park is acquired and developed. The initial lease will be for five years with the first year costing $12 per square foot, escalating to $13.50 in the second year and 2 percent annual increases after that.