Sirti Panel Moving Forward On Search For Executive Director

Directors of Spokane’s Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute (SIRTI) hope to fill the vacant executive director’s position within several weeks.

The job, initially filled by Gordon Bopp when SIRTI started in 1990, had been held by Lyle Anderson since 1995.

Anderson retired at the end of July and moved to the Seattle area.

Tony Lentz, SIRTI’s associate director, has been named interim executive director, said Mike Nowling, past president of the board.

Lentz is one of several candidates being considered for the executive director’s post, Nowling added. He declined to name other candidates.

“We also don’t have a fixed date for the final selection. We may choose to fill the (director’s) job or keep it an interim post for a while,” he said.

Nowling also said the job would not drastically change, no matter who fills it. The board’s main concern is that SIRTI implements a long-term strategy adopted last year.

SIRTI’s chief goal is to serve as a late-stage resource for companies preparing products for market.