RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Oct. 31, 2007 -- The North Carolina Biotechnology Center has created a new Statewide Operations and Economic Development Division to foster the creation and growth of biotechnology companies, business development and new job opportunities throughout the state.
Mike Wilkins, senior policy advisor to North Carolina House Speaker Joe Hackney and a former three-term state legislator himself, has been hired to lead the division as senior vice president of statewide operations and economic development.
In addition, Steven Casey, business development director, has been promoted to vice president of statewide operations and Bill Bullock, director of bioscience industrial development, has been promoted to vice president of bioscience industrial development.
Casey and Bullock will report to Wilkins, who will oversee a staff of 15 and report to Norris Tolson, president and CEO.
"This new division is critical to our mission of developing biotechnology and creating high-paying jobs in all parts of the state," Tolson said. "Mike Wilkins, Steve Casey and Bill Bullock collectively have decades of senior experience in business, government, economic development and the military, and we're fortunate to have them on our team."
Strong Economic Development Experience
In his newly created position, Wilkins, 62, will oversee the Biotechnology Center's five regional offices, five regional biotechnology advisory committees and worldwide economic development activities.
"I have been involved in economic development for about 30 years at the state and local levels, and nothing is more exciting and promising for economic progress in the state than the biotech field," Wilkins said. "I look forward to working with Norris Tolson and the Biotechnology Center in making North Carolina a place for growth and expansion of biotech industries."
Speaker Hackney said Wilkins' three decades of experience in economic development will be invaluable to the Biotechnology Center.
"Mike's work as a county commissioner, a legislator, an assistant commerce secretary, a utility commissioner and a senior staffer for two House Speakers all tied him in some way to improving the economy of this state," Hackney said.
"His knowledge of budget and finance is unparalleled and, combined with his ability to work with businesses, makes this new opportunity a perfect fit for him. While it is disappointing to lose his service in the Speaker's Office, I am glad to know that he will still be serving the people of this state. Biotechnology continues to be an important and rapidly growing part of our economy, and I have no doubt that Mike's talents will help increase its presence and influence. I am grateful for that."
Background
A native of Roxboro, Wilkins served three consecutive two-year terms in the N.C. House of Representatives from 1992 to 1998, serving District 22. Previously he was founder and chief operating officer of Convenience Corner Inc., a Roxboro company with real estate, restaurants, convenience stores and car washes in Central North Carolina.
He has a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and served four years as a captain in the U.S. Air Force.
Casey, 50, joined the Biotechnology Center in August 2006 as business development director. Previously he was founder and chief operating officer of Expression Analysis, a Durham company that provides gene expression, genotyping and re-sequencing services for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
Before that he was a manager with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at Duke University after being discharged with honors from two decades of service with the U.S. Air Force. He has a bachelor's degree in business administration from Wayland Baptist University and an MBA from Elon College.
Bullock, 46, has had two stints at the Biotechnology Center, the most recent one a joint position with the state Department of Commerce starting in July 2002. Previously he spent eight years as vice president of BioAbility, a bioscience consulting firm in Research Triangle Park.
He also held production, marketing and technical jobs at Stratagene Cloning Systems of San Diego for six years. He has a bachelor's degree in biochemistry and cell biology from the University of California-San Diego and an MBA from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
About the Biotechnology Center
The North Carolina Biotechnology Center is a private, non-profit corporation established by the State and 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.
Editors
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Contact
Barry Teater, vice president of corporate communications, at 919-541-9366. Visit the Biotechnology Center Web site at: www.ncbiotech.org.
