Michael Halbrook

Michael Halbrook, Senior Project Manager, Office of Technology Commercialization. Mr. Halbrook’s area of concentration is in the Information Technology domain.  His experience and expertise includes university technology transfer, licensing and commercialization of intellectual property, creating and leading entrepreneurial enterprises, economic development, information technology, and operational management.  Mr. Halbrook has worked in a variety of business environments from profit to non-profit, including Fortune 500 companies, higher education, and entrepreneurial start-ups. 

Prior to coming to Purdue, Mr. Halbrook directed and managed the intellectual property and technology transfer activities at Ball State University.  He created and lead Ball State University’s first Technology Transfer Office and implemented the university’s new Intellectual Property policy and university-wide technology transfer process.  Mr. Halbrook presided over the formation, management, and operation of Ball State’s commercialization process, including the creation of Ball State Innovation Corporation, Innovative Management Services, and Ball State Holdings, serving as the President and CEO of these organizations.

Mr. Halbrook has co-founded several entrepreneurial companies and has served as CIO and Vice President of Information Services for various finance and computer technology firms.  Mr. Halbrook is also a founding partner in a new Indiana start-up bringing to market new and innovative services and products for K-12 educators, principals, and administrators.   Halbrook is a graduate of Purdue University (B.S. Computer Science) and has an M.B.A. from Eastern Michigan University.  Weekends find Mr. Halbrook on his ‘low-tech’ farm, and throughout the year he enjoys a variety of outdoor sports and is an active participant and volunteer in community activities.

1.      What is one invention that you just couldn’t live without?  One of the greatest labor-saving inventions of today is tomorrow - Vincent T. Foss. 

2.      Who has been the most influential person in your life?  My father, a true renaissance man.

3.      Other than safety and fuel efficiency, what is one aspect that you will not compromise on when searching for a new car? It must be fun to drive which translates to having a manual transmission. 

4.      If you were selected to be a contestant on a game show that requires you to taste cuisines from around the world and name the cuisine’s native country, how would you prepare for it?  One of my enjoyable pursuits is cooking a wide variety of cuisines; thus it would be fun to explore some of the lessor known recipes and cuisines from around the world that ordinarily I might not seek out.  Finding the ingredients could be an issue however.