Mote Names Senior Consultant for Economic and Community Development

Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium is pleased to announce the appointment of Irwin L. Davis as Senior Consultant for Economic and Community Development - a volunteer position for which Mr. Davis has generously offered his expertise.

Mr. Davis, a resident of Lakewood Ranch, is a nationally recognized leader in regional economic development and urban planning with more than 40 years of experience in New York and Florida, including board of directors positions with Sarasota- and Manatee-county economic development organizations.

Mr. Davis will assist Mote - an independent, nonprofit leader in marine research and education - in economic and business development efforts related to:

Irwin L. Davis, Senior Consultant for Economic and Community Development at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium

Seafood production: Mote raises Siberian sturgeon and caviar raised at our cutting-edge research and development farm in eastern Sarasota County, where we develop responsible, Earth-friendly methods to grow fish for food. Mr. Davis will assist us in seeking new and supporting our existing markets.
Intellectual property, especially new tools and technologies developed by Mote scientists.
Economic development projects in the Southwest Florida region on an as-needed basis.
The Mote-Israel Cooperative Marine Research Program, which is designed to support research initiatives that benefit marine environments in both nations.
Mr. Davis' work will help advance the goals in Mote's 2020 Vision and Strategic Plan, which was adopted unanimously by Mote's Board of Trustees at the beginning of 2011. The 2020 Vision serves as the blueprint guiding Mote's innovative and transformative efforts in marine research, education, outreach and policy advice designed to meet the critical needs facing our oceans and positively impact society in this century and beyond.

"We are excited to welcome Mr. Davis to the Mote family, and we are grateful that he is volunteering his considerable expertise to support our nonprofit Lab," said Mote President and CEO Dr. Kumar Mahadevan. "It's exceptional to find such a seasoned professional in economic and community development who is so passionate about advancing marine science, technology and education."

"Since becoming a permanent resident of the region, I have been thoroughly impressed with Mote's achievements, both in leading world-class research and in serving as an engine for economic development in our community," Mr. Davis said. "I'm excited to put my experience to work for Mote, and I look forward to forging new connections with others who are passionate about this remarkable institution."

Davis served for 32 years as President and CEO of the Metropolitan Development Association (today called CenterState CEO) in Syracuse, which is Central Upstate New York's business leadership and primary private-sector vehicle for implementing key development projects.

He has created successful public-private partnerships involving every level of government with corporations such as Lockheed Martin, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Anheuser-Busch, along with successful new collaborations between universities and industry that led to new jobs, products and economic growth.

He is a member of the Upstate Advisory Board of the Federal Reserve Board of New York and a Senior Associate for Economic Development at Cornell University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science. He completed his graduate studies in Urban Development and Public Administration at American University in Washington, DC. He has served in a number of community development and improvement leadership roles in New York and beyond.

Today he offers consultation services for economic and community development.

In Southwest Florida, Mr. Davis has served as a board director for The Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance, The Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County and the Manatee Economic Development Council. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Itzhak & Toby Perlman Music Program - Suncoast.

Founded in 1955, Mote Marine Laboratory is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)3 research organization based in Sarasota, Fla., with field stations in eastern Sarasota County, Charlotte Harbor and the Florida Keys. Donations to Mote are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Mote is dedicated to today's research for tomorrow's oceans with an emphasis on world-class research relevant to conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity, healthy habitats and natural resources. Research programs include studies of human cancer using marine models, the effects of man-made and natural toxins on humans and on the environment, the health of wild fisheries, developing sustainable and successful fish restocking techniques and food production technologies and the development of ocean technology to help us better understand the health of the environment. Mote research programs also focus on understanding the population dynamics of manatees, dolphins, sea turtles, sharks and coral reefs and on conservation and restoration efforts related to these species and ecosystems. Mote's vision includes positively impacting public policy through science-based outreach and education. Showcasing this research is Mote Aquarium, open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 365 days a year. Learn more at www.mote.org.

Contact:
Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34236. (941) 388-4441 or info@mote.org.