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The Scripps Research Institute Names Ervin Owens of Lake Worth Human Resources Manager for Scripps Florida

La Jolla, CA, April 15, 2004 - The Scripps Research Institute announced today the appointment of Ervin Owens of Lake Worth as Human Resources Manager at the newly established Scripps Florida in Palm Beach County. He will assume his new responsibilities on April 12.

Owens, 49, will manage non-faculty recruitment, hiring, personnel practices and policies, and staff training for the La Jolla, California-based biomedical research institute's Florida facilities.

Owens comes to Scripps Florida with more than 15 years experience in Fortune 500 companies, including senior human resources and labor relations positions with Motorola, Inc., Kraft General Foods, and General Motors Corporation. Most recently, he has served as an independent human resources consultant with SharpHR Associates in Deerfield Beach, Florida.

"Ervin brings wide experience and deep knowledge of human resources policies and practices to Scripps Florida and to The Scripps Research Institute," said Judith Munoz, Ph.D., Scripps Research Vice President of Human Resources. "He also knows the state and local labor market, as well as human resources issues and regulations particular to Florida. He will be a very valuable addition to our new operations."

"I'm tremendously excited about the opportunity of joining Scripps Florida as it establishes itself in Florida," Owens said. "Individual by individual, we will build a research institution of world-class quality that benefits the people of Palm Beach County, contributes to the economic health of the state, and improves human health worldwide."

Owens served as Director of Human Resources for the 3,800-employee Motorola, Inc., facility in Boynton Beach, Florida from 1994 to 2001. Prior to that, he was with Kraft General Foods for four years, rising from Plant Human Resources Manager in Memphis, Tennessee, through Regional Human Resources Manager in Glenview, Illinois, to Manager of Human Resources in San Antonio, Texas.

From 1985 to 1990, Owens held a number of human resources positions with General Motors Corporation in Warren, Michigan, culminating as Senior Labor Relations Representative.

After receiving a Bachelor's Degree in Education and a Master's in Education Administration from Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Owens served as a vice principal and program coordinator for the Atlantic City, New Jersey, public schools, and then as Director of the Office of Minority Affairs and Assistant to the Director of Student Life at his alma mater in Michigan.

Owens serves on the Board of Directors of the Palm Beach County Chapter of the National Urban League.

Note: Downloadable photo at: http://www.scripps.edu/news/press/image/041504owens.jpg

About Scripps Florida

Scripps Florida, a 364,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art biomedical research facility, will be built on 100 acres of undeveloped land west of I-95 off of PGA Boulevard and bordered by Seminole/Pratt Whitney Road. The facility will focus on basic biomedical science, drug discovery, and technology development. Palm Beach County is providing an economic package that includes the land, $137 million toward construction of the permanent facility and related costs, and costs for temporary facilities for Scripps scientists. Planning, development, and construction of the new campus are scheduled to begin as soon as contracts are finalized. The campus is expected to open in late 2006 and will ultimately employ more than 500 people.

The start-up costs of Scripps Florida, a division of The Scripps Research Institute headquartered in La Jolla, California, are supported by a one-time $310 million appropriation of federal economic development funds made by the State of Florida at the request of Governor Jeb Bush. Scripps Florida is expected to attract other research facilities, and biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms, as well as residential, commercial, recreational, educational, and cultural development to the surrounding area.

Scripps Florida will first operate out of 8,000 square-foot lab facilities on the Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton campus. It will move in early 2005 to a 41,000 square-foot facility now being built by the university on its Jupiter campus.

About The Scripps Research Institute

The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, is one of the world's largest, private, non-profit biomedical research organizations. It stands at the forefront of basic biomedical science that seeks to comprehend the most fundamental processes of life. Scripps Research is internationally recognized for its research into immunology, molecular and cellular biology, chemistry, neurosciences, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular diseases and synthetic vaccine development.

For more information contact:
Keith McKeown
10550 North Torrey Pines Road
La Jolla, California 92037

Tel: 858.784.8134
Fax: 858.784.8118
kmckeown@scripps.edu