Head of the Research Park preparing to retire

The executive director of the Western Sarnia-Lambton Research Park has announced he is retiring. Tom Strifler took over the job four years ago and is credited with increasing the park’s occupancy rate to 93% and securing its future prospects.

The executive director of the Western Sarnia-Lambton Research Park has announced he is retiring.

Tom Strifler took over the job four years ago and is credited with increasing the park’s occupancy rate to 93% and securing its future prospects.

Under his leadership, the facility on Modeland Road has assisted more than a dozen incubator projects, including BioAmber, KmX and others that became commercial ventures.

Mike Bradley, Sarnia’s mayor and chair of the Community Development Corporation, said the park’s reputation has grown exponentially under Strifler’s leadership.

“His calm professionalism and insightful advice will be greatly missed,” he said.

The research park was created in 2003 with the inception of the Community Development Corporation, which is owned by Lambton County.