Purdue University North Central and the PNC Center for Economic Development and Research (CEDaR) will present an economic development workshop on Dec. 1 in the Library-Student-Faculty building Assembly Hall, Room 02. This workshop will be of interest to all individuals interested in economic development.

The event is free and open to the public. The evening will open at 6:30 p.m. with dessert and the presentation will begin at 7 p.m. Guest speaker will be Dr. David R. McKinnis, director of Purdue’s Technical Assistance Program (TAP). McKinnis will speak about the services available through TAP and share examples of projects in which TAP provided assistance. There will be time for questions, answers and conversation following his presentation.

McKinnis joined TAP when it was founded in 1986 and became director in 2000. He has connected hundreds of Purdue faculty, staff, and students with thousands of Indiana companies, healthcare providers and governmental organizations, carrying out TAP mission to advance Indiana’s economic prosperity and quality of life. TAP has staff in nine statewide offices serving over four hundred employers each year.

Prior to coming to Purdue, McKinnis held manufacturing positions with Landis + Gyr and Caterpillar in Lafayette and with Thermotron Industries in Holland, Mich. He holds a B.S. in Engineering Science, M.S. in Management and a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering, all from Purdue University.

Further information about the workshop may be obtained by contacting Amber Cable in the PNC Chancellor’s Office at alcable@pnc.edu.