Retiring McGown nurtured Research Park from concept to maturity

Having worked under four Wisconsin governors and four UW–Madison chancellors, Wayne McGown has adapted to a certain kind of professional rhythm: “You’re in, you’re out, you’re off to something else.”

Wayne McGown steps through the latest University Research Park addition, the MGE Innovation Center, which already has nearly a full house of tenants. The facility will be home base for 14 small businesses. Once home to the Charmany-Rieder research farms, the 300-acre, west-side research park at Odana Road and Whitney Way is home to 72 companies employing more than 2,100 people.

Yet the project McGown is most well-known for, the University Research Park, has been a model of steady growth and stability during the past 15 years. Set to retire on June 30, McGown says his experience as both an early planner and long-term director of the park will be a particularly satisfying memory.

“It’s a rarity for a public administrator to be involved in the planning of a major public project, and then be able to stay with it until it reaches maturity,” McGown says. “To see this through its years of development has been fun.”

Once home to the Charmany-Rieder research farms, the 300-acre, west-side development at Odana Road and Whitney Way was not always seen as a sure bet. McGown says many universities nationally were starting research parks in the early 1980s, and some studies suggested they would compete with each other for limited business and some would ultimately fail.

McGown attributes the success of UW–Madison’s park to two key factors. First, park leadership resisted the temptation to expand development into other commercial ventures, such as retail stores and housing. At different times, the park had offers on the table for locating a Target department store and a quick-service oil change store on park property.

It would have made for an odd mix today, among the thriving high-tech and service businesses. The park is now home to 72 companies employing more than 2,100 people and supplying well over $1 million a year in property taxes.

A second key to its success has been a “grow-your-own” philosophy for new business startups, focusing on technology transfer from university research. Many of the companies at the park stem directly from UW–Madison research, or were started by university-trained graduate students.

In that sense, McGown says the research park is a visible model to faculty that technology transfer can be successful. “There is much greater encouragement today for faculty to be involved in the commercialization of their research, which is a dramatic change from the early 80s,” he says.

McGown played a major role in several other landmark UW–Madison projects, including the Wisconsin Initiative for State Technology and Applied Research (WISTAR). The program helped UW–Madison respond to a crisis of aging and deteriorating research buildings in the past decade with a public-private partnership that raised more than $200 million.

McGown cites his role with the UW Hospital and Clinics Authority as another major milestone. The five-year effort led in 1996 to a complete restructuring of the hospital that gave it more independence from the state.

Also in keeping with his versatile role, McGown served as interim director for three UW–Madison offices, including facilities, budget and personnel.

By the time he retires this summer, McGown will have spent exactly 20 years of public service on each end of State Street.

From 1959-1979, McGown’s resume might look like a who’s who of Wisconsin leadership. He served as state budget director under Democratic Gov. John Reynolds, secretary of administration under Republican Gov. Warren Knowles, and also served key administrative positions under Govs. Patrick Lucey and Martin Schreiber.

From 1979-1999, he served as special assistant under Chancellors Irving Shain, Bernard Cohen (interim), Donna Shalala and David Ward. “I’ve found that to be a very rewarding opportunity,” he says. “All four of them were different in many ways, but similar in their skill to give leadership to a massive organization like this.”

McGown, who just turned 70 in February, and his wife, Hildy, plan to stay in Madison after his retirement. He will continue working with a small consulting firm that offers advice to the nation’s 160-plus university-affiliated research parks.