GREENVILLE, N.C., Oct. 17, 2006 --Twenty-three leaders of business, academia and science from throughout Eastern North Carolina have committed to serve on an advisory committee to help guide the region's biotechnology development.
The group, formally designated the Advisory Committee for Biotechnology in Eastern North Carolina, was brought together by the North Carolina Biotechnology Center.
D. Jordan "Jordy" Whichard III, of Greenville, publisher of Cox North Carolina Publications, chairs the committee, and Ron Blackmon, Ph.D., provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at Elizabeth City State University, is vice chairman.
The group's first meeting Sept. 22 in the Greenville Centre included presentations from committee members Vann Rogerson, of Edenton, president and CEO of the Northeastern North Carolina Regional Economic Development Commission, and Dave Inscoe, of Morehead City, executive director of the Carteret County Economic Development Council.
Other speakers included Norris Tolson, secretary of the N.C. Department of Revenue; W. Steven Burke, senior vice president of corporate affairs for the Biotechnology Center; and John D. Chaffee, director of the Biotechnology Center's Eastern Office.
"The broad-based representation on this committee reflects the wonderful commitment we have throughout this region to the imagination, collaboration, exploration and partnership that has been enabling biotechnology's growth here," said Chaffee.
"This goes far beyond Pitt County, involving leaders of academic, business and civic institutions joining in a common effort. As a result, our future looks very good indeed. Just as computer technology has become imbued in virtually every aspect of our lives, so too are the tools of biotechnology becoming important contributors to solving everyday problems."
The Biotechnology Center's Eastern Office serves 27 counties:
- Beaufort
- Bertie
- Camden
- Carteret
- Chowan
- Craven
- Currituck
- Dare
- Edgecombe
- Gates
- Greene
- Halifax
- Hertford
- Hyde
- Jones
- Lenoir
- Martin
- Nash
- Northampton
- Pamlico
- Pasquotank
- Perquimans
- Pitt
- Tyrrell
- Washington
- Wayne
- Wilson
A separate advisory committee held its first meeting the same week in Wilmington, to similarly guide biotechnology growth in Southeastern North Carolina. The Biotechnology Center, working with regional partners, has also established advisory committees to serve the Piedmont Triad and the Western North Carolina regions. A fifth and final committee will be empanelled to serve the Greater Charlotte area, where a Biotechnology Center regional office was officially opened Oct. 10.
"Partnership and strategic thinking are required to move a complicated technology from promise to practical outcomes across a large region," said Burke. "We have both in these committees."
The North Carolina Biotechnology Center is a state-supported, non-profit organization. Its mission is to provide long-term economic and societal benefits to North Carolina by supporting biotechnology research, business and education statewide.
Contact: Jim Shamp, news and publications editor, North Carolina Biotechnology Center, 919-541-9366. Visit the Biotechnology Center's Web site at: www.ncbiotech.org.
Member List
- Ron Blackmon, Ph.D. -- Committee vice chair and provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City
- W. Steven Burke, senior vice president, Corporate Affairs, North Carolina Biotechnology Center, Research Triangle Park
- John D. Chaffee, director, Eastern Office, North Carolina Biotechnology Center, Greenville
- Bill Cooper, manager, BioNetwork -- Bioprocessing Center, Greenville
- Al Delia, president and CEO, N.C. Eastern Region, Kinston
- Hans Engels, Ph.D., COO, DSM Pharmaceuticals Inc., Greenville
- John Gessaman, president and CEO, Carolinas Gateway Partnership, Rocky Mount
- Marty Hackney, director, Entrepreneurial Initiative, East Carolina University, Greenville
- Ron Heiniger, Ph.D., associate professor - extension corn specialist, North Carolina State University, Plymouth
- Dave Inscoe, executive director, Carteret County Economic Development Council, Morehead City
- Rob Mayo, president, Carolina Classics Catfish, Ayden
- Rick Niswander, Ph.D., dean, College of Business, East Carolina University, Greenville
- Rachel T. Noble, Ph.D., assistant professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Institute of Marine Sciences, Morehead City
- David Peele, Ph.D., president, AVOCA, Inc., Merry Hill
- Paul Phibbs, Ph.D., professor and vice chair for research, Department of Internal Medicine, Brody School of Medicine, Greenville
- Scott Ralls, Ph.D., president, Craven Community College, New Bern
- Bill Richardson, former Currituck County manager, retired, Poplar Branch
- Vann Rogerson, president and CEO, Northeastern North Carolina Regional Economic Development Commission, Edenton
- Edmund "Ed" Stellwag, Ph.D., director, Genomics Core Facility and associate professor in the Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville
- H. L. "Steve" Stephenson III, attorney, Ward and Smith, P.A., Attorneys at Law, Greenville
- Anton-Lewis "Anton" Usala, M.D., chairman and CEO, CTMG Inc., Greenville
- D. Jordan "Jordy" Whichard III, committee chair and publisher, Cox North Carolina Publications, Greenville
- Raymond "Ray" White, executive director, Albemarle Economic Development Commission, Elizabeth City
