It can't be called a minor facelift. Nor is it major surgery. But the ongoing makeover of the Southeastern Universities Research Association (SURA) - the organization charged with the management of Jefferson Lab, isn't exactly a trivial matter because the future poses risk as well as reward.

"Things are changing. All of science is at a crossroads in some sense," contends SURA President Jerry Draayer. "SURA is poised to help our member institutions move through that intersection. While Jefferson Lab is SURA's crown jewel and continues to be our top priority, we're also looking toward initiatives that are more directly coupled with economic development and commercialization opportunities that can be an outgrowth of SURA's research thrusts."

SURA is meeting the future with several initiatives. One continues a traditional strength in information technology (IT), begun with the establishment of SURAnet, which was sold to a private firm in 1995 for $16 million, and is a prime example of technology transfer at its best. According to Draayer, "IT is the glue that has pulled our institutions together." The Association now hopes to leverage its members' IT expertise to build a region-wide state-of-the-art network that can serve numerous purposes including a health-sciences network that would feature telehealth for underserved populations as one of its offerings.

"Ten years ago who would have predicted information technology would be where it is now?" questions John Mullin, the organization's general counsel since 1986. Mullin recently relocated from a JLab home base to SURA's Washington, D.C. headquarters, where he has also assumed the title of Senior Vice President for Operations. "You have to be prepared to change as circumstances change."

SURA is also mulling the possibility of an Association-lead coastal marine science initiative. Given that much of the southeastern United States is coastal, it is not surprising to find many SURA member institutions sponsoring national or international marine science programs at their campuses. As in the case of JLab, pooling efforts could lead to a groundbreaking venture whose impact could be felt worldwide.

"The intellectual horsepower that drives SURA resides in our member institutions," Draayer says. "We facilitate; we organize, convene, and act as liaison. In principle, we have 46 field offices - our member institutions. That's where we go for guidance."

Draayer says that in the coming months and years the Association will intensify its support of research and researchers - plowing back into programs interest earned from the sale of SURAnet and any profits earned from future technology transfers. "How does something like Jefferson Lab happen," Draayer rhetorically asks. "It happens as a result of the leadership of one or two individuals that push programs forward. Those intellectual leaders are what we fondly call our spark plugs."

"When you get right down to it, one of the most important things SURA does is select a director for Jefferson Lab, which it did with Hermann Grunder in 1985," Mullin points out. "Pick the wrong guy and it could be a disaster. Hermann's been superb. He took a green site and built a world-class laboratory. It's a remarkable accomplishment."

Small Is Beautiful

Established in 1980 as an organization that would ultimately design and manage Jefferson Lab, SURA has grown into a consortium of 46 universities from 13 southeastern states and the District of Columbia that operates as a nonstock, nonprofit corporation. The Association serves as an entity through which colleges, universities, and other organizations may cooperate with one another as well as with the Government in acquiring, developing and using laboratories, machines and other research facilities to further knowledge in the physical, biological and other natural sciences and engineering. In addition to its 46 field offices, as Draayer describes SURAs member universities, and the DC headquarters, the consortium's other operations site is JLab.

SURA Goals To foster excellence in scientific research. To strengthen the scientific and technical capabilities of the Southeast and of the Nation. To provide outstanding training opportunities for next generation of scientists and engineers.

Since the beginning of this year, SURA headquarters has been bustling with activity with the addition of several staff members. Besides Draayer and Mullin, Elizabeth Lawson, who has been with JLab since 1985, joined the headquarters staff as Executive Assistant to the SURA President in April. Greg Schuckman, the new Director of Communications and Corporate Relations at SURA since mid-June, brings to the organization a decade of experience in public affairs. Meta Wilt, SURA Controller since 1995, recently relocated to headquarters and assumed the additional responsibilities of Corporate Treasurer. They build on the foundation established by Hugh Loweth, a veteran of the organization since 1986, who serves as SURA's Vice President for Government and University Relations, and Leslie Swindells, SURA's Office Manager, since 1996. Rounding out this new headquarters team will be a Director of Information Technology Initiatives and an administrative support position, both of which are planned for next year.

Jerry Draayer SURA President

As SURA steps more aggressively into new areas, the role of its member-university presidents on the organization's Council of Presidents will likewise increase. "SURA will be more active than ever," Draayer predicts. "While we can't focus on everything, the programs we choose will grow. Yet Draayer remains mindful of the role that Jefferson Lab plays in SURA. "Jefferson Lab is the backbone of SURA's operation. Our future is linked to the Lab's future and that is why we are going to work hard to ensure that the JLab upgrades come through." Although the Association's JLab management and operations contract with the Department of Energy has recently been renewed, it expires in 2004. At that time, the contract will probably be put out for competitive bid and given the Lab's track record, there should be no shortage of interested parties.

"With increased engagement by our Council of Presidents, new horsepower at SURA headquarters, and most importantly, continued success by Hermann and his team at Jefferson Lab, we are confident that the JLab will continue to thrive and that SURA, with the creativity and determination of its 'spark plugs', will be able to provide the kindling (seed capital) for what could be another major fire (scientific breakthrough) like CEBAF, the FEL, and SURAnet," boasts Draayer.

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