Yonnie Butler manages investments for the North Carolina Biotechnology Center through its various loan-based programs to support life science companies through inception, research and growth stages. In the role, Mr. Butler works closely with these companies to provide mentoring related to his expertise in entrepreneurship, business, operations, outsourcing, marketing, and development. He routinely interacts with academic technology transfer groups, angel investors, venture capital firms, and pharmaceutical licensing teams.
Mr. Butler has more than 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical, biomedical, contract research and consulting industries. In his most recent role, he was business development executive and managing consultant in charge of several large North American pharmaceutical accounts for Tunnell Consulting headquartered in the Philadelphia area.
He has also worked for Roche, LabCorp, Magellan Laboratories, Cardinal Health and PharmaDirections.
Mr. Butler received his undergraduate degree in biology from East Carolina University and holds an MBA from Elon University. He has taken courses at Alamance Community College and is completing his certificate in Non-Profit Management at Duke University. Mr. Butler has served as a business plan reviewer for Duke University, mentored MBA students from Wake Forest University, North Carolina State University and Duke University, and assisted several academic programs that foster entrepreneurship. He is a board member for the East Carolina University Medical & Health Sciences Foundation, an Entrepreneur Affiliate for Duke’s Fuqua School of Business, member of Elon University’s Entrepreneurial Mentor Network, advisory board member of East Carolina University’s Engineering Department, judge for the Five Ventures start-up business competition program, and a frequent speaker at the World’s Best Technology Showcase annual event. Mr. Butler also hosts the annual Biotech Showcase event he conceived with local venture capitalists Garheng Kong (InterSouth Partners) and Jeff Clark (Aurora Funds).
In addition, he has served as an adjunct instructor for two community colleges in North Carolina, and has provided training to several companies through the NC BioNetwork initiative. Mr. Butler routinely speaks on the subject of entrepreneurship at universities and conferences, and has had several articles published related to the topics of outsourcing, project management, experiential learning and business development.
He has held board positions with the Pharmaceutical Outsourcing Management Association, American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists, the World Trade Association, and the Licensing Executives Society along with several small biotech firms, and is active within Southeast BIO (SEBIO), the Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED), the Angel Capital Association (ACA) and the North Carolina Economic Development Association (NCEDA).
A native of North Carolina, Mr. Butler lives in Mebane with his wife Judy. They have two children, and four grandchildren. In his spare time, he enjoys golf, fishing, hunting, volleyball and camping. He is an Eagle Scout and long-time Scoutmaster, and still remains active in various scouting roles. Mr. Butler is also an antique collector and music enthusiast, and has played drums throughout the years with several local bands.