SkyWater names lead project executive for Purdue facility
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
Minnesota-based SkyWater Technology (Nasdaq: SKYT) is advancing its plans for a $1.8 billion semiconductor manufacturing plant in Purdue University’s Discovery Park District. During a visit to Purdue on Tuesday, CEO Thomas Sonderman announced the company has hired Todd Pedersen as vice president of corporate development. He will also serve as the lead project executive for the facility.
SkyWater first detailed plans for the semiconductor plant in July. The project is expected to create 750 jobs in West Lafayette over five years.
Pedersen most recently served as vice president of corporate affairs for Genesys in Indianapolis. He is also a former state director of life sciences at the Indiana Economic Development Corp. under former Governor – and now Purdue President – Mitch Daniels.
SkyWater says Pedersen will also focus on the company’s operations at the WestGate@Crane Technology Park in Odon.
“This is such a unique opportunity to be part of SkyWater and the revitalization of the semiconductor industry right in my own backyard,” Pedersen said in written remarks. “While initially focused on Indiana, I look forward to providing corporate development services across the entire company, helping enable SkyWater’s unique growth opportunities.”
Sonderman on Tuesday presented a keynote address to more than 300 engineering students at the Purdue Semiconductors Info Session, in which students learned about semiconductor degrees and courses, as well as comments from industry leaders.
The visit came on the same day that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo also made a trip to West Lafayette to tour the Birck Nanotechnology Center and highlight the passage of the CHIPS and Science Act.
“This place is maybe one of the most inspiring human fabs that I’ve ever seen,” Blinken said after the tour. “What we’re doing at home and particularly what is happening here goes directly to our standing and leadership in the world.”
U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Governor Eric Holcomb were also on hand for the visit.