Alliance Announces New Company at Inventrek
This article was originally published on November 13, 2009 in the Kokomo Perspective
The Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance has announced that Criterion Water Labs, LLC, will become the newest tenant at Inventrek Technology Park, 700 E. Firmin St., when it begins testing water samples Nov. 23.
“Criterion is another example of our strategy to build new businesses based on our local assets in an encouraging and cost effective manner,” Jeb Conrad, Alliance president and CEO, said. “They are a great addition to our business environment and Inventrek Park.”
Coli form and e-coli bacteria can be a health issue in any water supply, and, as a Microbiological Testing Laboratory, Criterion Water Labs, LLC, can help local businesses, homeowners, well drillers, church officials – any one needing water testing – monitor their water sources.
Criterion owners David and Ann Ihms have lived in the Russiaville area since 1987. David has a PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Missouri- Rolla, which is now the Missouri University of Science and Technology. He is a senior project engineer at Delphi Electronics in Kokomo. Ann has bachelor of science and master of science degrees in materials engineering from the same university. She has worked at Delphi Electronics in Kokomo and as the chemical hygiene officer for Indiana Wesleyan University.
David will continue to work at Delphi, but he will oversee Ann’s work in Criterion’s lab. Ann completed the Fast Trac Tech Venture program that Inventrek offered in June.
“That excellent entrepreneurial course gave us the information and confidence we needed to create a small business and hopefully make it an asset for the community,” Ann said.
Criterion also will provide a package of water conditioning tests to help customers monitor what their water conditioning needs are and how well their systems are meeting that need.
“As an outside source, we can help provide information without trying to sell the conditioning system,” Ann said.
Criterion also is working with Indiana University-Kokomo on a grant to use interns in the lab. “We hope to be a resource to encourage young people in the fields of biology and chemistry,” Ann said.
Criterion Water is gathering local water information for its website ( www.criterionwaterlabs.com ) and will develop educational materials about groundwater and environmental issues.
“Criterion makes it easy to have your water tested,” Ann said. “It is extremely important to collect a water sample in a correct manner and to have it tested quickly because mailing a test lab can have time and temperature problems.”
Sample collection information is on the Web site (www.criterionwaterlabs.com).
Currently, Criterion can give a customer data on chlorine/chloride, hardness, iron, ammonia, nitrates, fluoride, coli forms, and e-coli.
Starting on Nov. 23, water samples can be dropped off at Criterion’s Lab at Inventrek from 8 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday and by appointment at Inventrek or Criterion’s Russiaville office, 8166 West County Road 200 South.
For more information call Ann Ihms at 883-7681 or 438-4995, or visit the company’s Web site: www.criterionwaterlabs.com.