New Mexico State University engineering alum and Spaceport America contributor Wayne Savage has been named executive director of Arrowhead Business and Research Park. Savage began his duties in June and is already looking for ways to enhance the business park’s role in supporting economic development and business innovation in the region.
“From my background of property management and large project delivery – most recently focused on Spaceport America and the commercial space industry development here in southern New Mexico – I’ve come to understand that economic development has been at the core of everything I’ve done,” Savage said.
The park is a being developed as a public-private land partnership that links scientists, technologists and entrepreneurs contributing to economic development in New Mexico. It is a growing hub for innovation and creativity that will provide an entrepreneurial environment with space, facilities and services to foster cooperation between NMSU research efforts and technology-based entrepreneurs and businesses in southern New Mexico.
Savage said one goal he has for the immediate future is to redefine and clarify what the park has to offer potential tenants. That means updating the park’s master plan to reflect a broader mixed-use development mission that targets industries that are tied to some of NMSU’s research and academic strengths, like agriculture, aerospace, energy, sustainability, manufacturing and engineering.
A 1980 graduate of NMSU’s industrial engineering program who grew up in Las Cruces, Savage said he’s pleased to be back in his hometown and putting his 30 years of experience in site and facility development, operations, project development and construction management to work for NMSU. He returned to New Mexico in 2007 to serve in several different roles managing the startup of the Spaceport America project and remains active in promoting the commercial space industry locally.
“What a privilege to have the opportunity to return to my community and my alma mater,” Savage said. “I’m looking forward to building long-lasting, productive relationships across the university community and in the larger southern New Mexico, West Texas, and northern Mexico region, with the expectation of seeing our efforts produce real economic development and job creation for our citizens.”
Arrowhead Center Chief Operating Officer Kathryn Hansen said Savage will help the park as it continues to grow, adding a second Arrowhead Park Early College High School facility this summer, and a multi-tenant innovation facility that could break ground next year. “Wayne brings the right combination of experience, skills, and relationships to lead the development of the Arrowhead Park as a regional technology hub, accelerating economic growth, encouraging collaborations and generating employment,” Hansen said. “We are very pleased to welcome him to our team.”
Savage lives in Las Cruces with his wife, Teresa. They have four children, and enjoy camping and spending time outdoors.
