Timothy C. Ferguson Appointed to Lead the Infrastructure Management Institute at Northern Kentucky University (NKU); Institute Focused on Research, Economic Development and Global Thought Leadership.

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. -- Northern Kentucky University (NKU) announced the recent appointment of Mr. Timothy C. Ferguson as Executive Director of the new Infrastructure Management Institute (IMI).

Ferguson's responsibilities are aligned with the Office of the Economic Initiatives at NKU, which is focused on regional economic development and job creation. As an economic engine in Northern Kentucky, NKU is leveraging their research, training and facility assets with public and private technology companies, associations and foundations to be catalysts for infrastructure management innovation and best practices.

Regarding the appointment of Ferguson, Robert Farrell, Associate Provost for Economic Initiatives stated, "Ferguson is an industry acknowledged strategist and leader in emerging technology. With more than 15 years as SVP of Research & Development at Computer Associates, we are pleased and fortunate to have Ferguson on-board."

According to Ferguson, an Institute can bring the industry to new levels of integration, "Through the IMI, the entire infrastructure management industry will benefit and grow from one central source. We need a time and place to cooperate - clearly resolving the needs of inter-operability will lead to a larger more competitive playing field."

NKU's Office of Economic Initiatives helped develop the concept of the IMI from discussions with technology businesses in the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati area. Universities are one of the critical drivers of regional economic growth and job creation. The IMI will provide a variety of resources including conferences, workshops, task forces, web site, web casts, user groups, expert/consultants, networking opportunities, certification and curriculum development for individuals and businesses working in the IT, IM and ITIL environments.

John Bostick, CEO for dbaDIRECT, a database infrastructure management company added, "The big IT question for the next decade is - What's your Infrastructure Strategy? The CEO, the CFO and the CIO need to find an answer that creates business value, is affordable and works. The IMI will be a place to find that answer."

About Northern Kentucky University:

Northern Kentucky University is a major metropolitan institution, enrolling more than 14,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students. Founded in 1968, NKU is located in the Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky area. The university offers nearly 60 baccalaureate degrees, 11 master's programs as well as a J.D. through the Salmon P. Chase College of Law.

NKU is a national model of civic engagement and economic development initiatives. Corporate and University partnerships include: The Scripps Howard Center for Civic Engagement, the Fifth/Third Entrepreneurial Center, Metropolitan Education and Training Services Center, the new Infrastructure Management Institute at NKU and the future focused College of Informatics.