Kurt Krause, vice president for business affairs at Virginia Tech, will leave the university to become general manager of The National Conference Center near Leesburg, the nation's largest conference facility.

"I appreciate the leadership and guidance Kurt has provided over the last three years and wish him well in his new position," said Jim Hyatt, executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Hyatt says a national search will begin immediately and has asked Ray Smoot, chief operating officer of the Virginia Tech Foundation and former university vice president for administration and treasurer, to chair the committee.

Units reporting to Krause (physical plant, university architect, university police, human resources, real estate management, and environmental health and safety) will report to Hyatt until a new vice president is hired.

"I am proud of our work to improve campus safety, particularly pedestrian safety, completion of the university master plan, and my involvement with the Town of Blacksburg," said Krause. "The university has arguably the best relations with its adjoining town of any school in the country." Krause, a 1980 Virginia Tech graduate with a degree in marketing, came to Virginia Tech in 2003 after a long career in the hospitality business with the Marriott International.

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