Michael Kelly Takes Piedmont Biotech Committee Role

Michael Kelly, COO and CFO at Greensboro-based Piedmont Pharmaceuticals, has been named vice chair of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center’s Advisory Committee for Biotechnology in the Piedmont Triad.

Kelly succeeds Jerry McGuire, associate vice chancellor for economic development in the Office of Research and Economic Development at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, who announced his career retirement in December.

Karen Hicks, vice president of human resources at Targacept, chairs the 24-member committee and Bill Dean, administrator of Pathologists Diagnostic Services, leads the executive advisory council which consists of the committee’s veteran members.

 “I am honored to serve as vice chair of this committee, working with Karen as chair and the executive advisory council,” said Kelly. “This committee exemplifies the value of bringing together key leaders to make a difference in growing life science opportunities in our community.”

 Nancy Johnston, executive director of the NCBiotech Piedmont Triad Office, said this marks the first time in the regional office’s 10-year history that both the advisory chair and vice chair come from the region’s industrial base. 

“Having this level of engagement is another tangible example of how regional leadership from academia and industry successfully collaborate to support biotechnology growth in the region,” she said.

New members on the committee include:

• Terri Shelton, Ph.D., vice chancellor for research and economic development for UNC Greensboro
• Alan Jones, business development manager for Duke Energy
• Cynthia Rothschild, Ph.D., partner, Kilpatrick Stockton
• Robert Egleston, president and CEO of DataMax Corporation and Foundation

NCBiotech established the committee in 2003, shortly after opening the Piedmont Triad Office as its first location outside the Research Triangle Park headquarters. Subsequently, the Center opened regional offices in Greenville, Wilmington, Asheville and Charlotte – each supported by an advisory committee of business, academic and civic leaders.

The advisory committee works closely with NCBiotech’s Piedmont Triad Office, advocating for and enabling life science employment growth throughout the region. Initiatives have included the Wet Lab LaunchPad, which provides lab space to early-stage companies in the Piedmont Triad Research Park; Triad BioNight, the marquee event for the Triad’s biotechnology community; and strategic work plans such as BioIgnite, focused on innovation, infrastructure, and investment to help grow jobs.

NCBiotech’s Piedmont Triad Office also helps to deploy the Center’s grant and loan programs locally and to make connections that help grow the life sciences statewide.