Cheryl McMurry, director of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center's Western Office in Asheville, was honored today by the North Carolina Career Network for her career achievements.
McMurry is among 10 North Carolina women profiled in the "extraordinary careers" section of the yearly women's issue of North Carolina Career Network Magazine. McMurry also was recognized at a luncheon today at the Career Network's annual Women's Business Professional Symposium and Expo in Greensboro.
The other nine women featured in the publication and honored at the Expo luncheon were:
- N.C. District Judge Denise Hartsfield
- N.C. Women's Prison Warden Annie Harvey
- American Airlines flight attendant Sharon Cunningham
- Hospice Vice President Ursula Robinson
- Furniture manufacturer Susan Barber
- Apparel designer and retailer Robin Mack Davis
- Infectious disease doctor Patricia Triplett
- Porter Scientific CEO Dr. Freda Porter
- Community service representative Joan Calvert
McMurry has directed the Biotechnology Center's Western Office since Aug. 1, 2005. She works with companies, schools, institutions and leaders throughout Western North Carolina to strengthen biotechnology development in the region.
Before moving to North Carolina, McMurry spent three years as senior vice president of Emergent Technologies, a venture capital company headquartered in Austin, Texas, and was president of Emergent Technologies, Oklahoma, a partnership fund with investments in five Oklahoma biotechnology companies.
While in Oklahoma, McMurry was instrumental in creating the Oklahoma Technology Commercialization Center, and served on the 10th District Federal Reserve Board Advisory Panel and on the Governor's Commission for Science and Technology.
A native of Ardmore, Okla., McMurry has a bachelor's degree in education from Auburn University, a master's degree in education from Winthrop College, and a master's degree in public administration and a law degree from the University of South Carolina.
The Biotechnology Center is a private, non-profit corporation supported by the General Assembly. Its mission is to provide long-term economic and societal benefits to North Carolina by supporting biotechnology research, business and education statewide.
Contact: Barry Teater, director of corporate communications, North Carolina Biotechnology Center, 919-549-8814.
