RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — Elizabeth Rooks, an executive with the

Research Triangle Foundation

since 1989, has been promoted to executive vice president and is now responsible for short- and long-term planning.

Rooks also will take on more operational management responsibility for the organization, which operates RTP.

"Liz demonstrates exemplary leadership and has played an instrumental role in shaping the new strategic direction for the Foundation and RTP," said Rick Weddle, the foundation's chief executive officer. "We want to recognize the importance of Liz's contributions to the organization in the past and the value she will continue to add in the future."

Rooks joined the Foundation as director of physical development in 1989 and was promoted to vice president of planning and development in 1998. She earned an undergraduate degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a graduate degree in city planning from Georgia Tech.