Brent Birch, the first and only direct employee of the Little Rock Technology Park, will step down as executive director this year after leading the downtown hub for nearly 12 years.
Birch said he is pursuing a new career opportunity that could be described as a “dream job.”
“Since I’m too old to be a Major League Baseball player, this new career will be the next best thing,” Birch told Arkansas Business Tuesday morning.
He did not reveal more about the role.
The Tech Park’s board of directors is launching a comprehensive search for the organization’s next executive director. Birch will remain in his role to ensure a smooth leadership transition before taking on his new opportunity.
“Given I’m the one and only employee, there isn’t anyone available to just hand the keys to and walk out the door,” Birch said.
Board Chairman John Burgess told Arkansas Business that the board is proceeding in an “expeditious but diligent manner.” He expects the hiring process to take around 45–60 days.
Burgess said the board is taking the opportunity to rethink the duties of the executive director role.
“As the Tech Park’s sole employee, the executive director has historically worn a broad set of hats including property manager, accountant, project manager and marketer,” Burgess said.
The new director will primarily serve as a real estate property manager, Burgess said. The board is looking for someone with “strong organizational and communication skills to collaborate and manage partners providing support services such as maintenance, accounting and marketing, and to interact with the board regarding governance and operations.”
Birch’s Tenure
Birch has led the Tech Park for nearly 12 years, shaping the organization’s growth and long-term success.
Since joining the project, Birch has overseen major facility expansions. He also worked to grow Little Rock’s profile within the tech sector and strengthen the region’s ability to attract and retain technology talent.
Among the most significant achievements during his tenure was the $22 million acquisition and renovation of multiple downtown properties that now serve as the park’s home.
Birch also directed Phase II renovations at 421 Main St., including substantial upgrades to the building’s first and third floors. Both projects were delivered on time and under budget.
Under Birch’s leadership, the Tech Park reached 100% occupancy prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and has maintained occupancy levels around 80% since then.
The organization operates debt-free, with all operating expenses supported through tenant lease revenue and downtown parking income.
“The Tech Park project has been extremely rewarding but the timing is right for some new energy to see Phase 2 through completion and play a role in the growth of more tech-focused companies in our market,” Birch said.
Birch has been a part of the Tech Park’s journey since the earliest planning phases.
“The leadership of the Board and the support of the tenants and the local technology community made this success possible, even when some doubted the project’s potential,” Birch said in a news release from the Tech Park. “I knew we hit a home run when technology leaders and entrepreneurs from New York, Atlanta, Austin, St. Louis and other noted tech hubs were blown away by what we built here and moved their companies to Little Rock.”
Burgess said in the release that Birch “will be difficult to replace,” but that he has put the Tech Park on stable and sustainable footing for its next chapter.
“Our occupancy has remained strong … in the face of dramatic changes to the entrepreneurial landscape, the rise of work-from-home and changes to the downtown workforce picture,” Burgess told Arkansas Business. “Our vision for the future of the Tech Park is to continue, through our partnership with The Venture Center, as the vibrant heart of the entrepreneurial scene in central Arkansas and to be a leading contributor to the re-emergence of downtown Little Rock as a destination for creators, disrupters and innovators.”
Birch is editor of Greenhead magazine, an Arkansas Business Publishing Group publication.
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