TodayGunnison to take over Murata Center
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Article RatingKaren Gunnison, who made a failed bid for Cumberland County commissioner this spring, has been named executive director of the Murata Business Center in Carlisle.
Gunnison will take over Murata in January. Marsha Davis, who held the Murata post since January 2004, will retire.
A Silver Spring Township lawyer, Gunnison was backed by pro-business Republicans during a primary challenge of commissioners Gary Eichelberger and Bruce Barclay. The incumbents sailed through the primary and were re-elected to second terms last week.
The Murata business incubator, owned and operated by Harrisburg Regional Chamber/Capital Region Economic Development Corp., helps small and pre-venture businesses and entrepreneurs to develop by providing a nurturing environment and a team of professionals to provide support and aid. The center houses mostly high-tech startups.
Gunnison, whose legal practice focused on general business, will work with Davis through the end of year.
Davis came to Murata after a career as a serial entrepreneur. In 1985, she co-founded Dasher Inc. along with her partner, Bev Lesher. They built Dasher from a small mail service company occupying 2,000 square feet to a full-service direct marketing center now in a 41,000-square-foot facility.
Davis said she is leaving Murata to travel, but she plans to stay active in the region’s entrepreneurial community.
Gunnison served as executive vice chairwoman of Modern Transit Partnership, promoter of the Corridor One regional commuter rail project.
