Life Sciences Economic Development Summit 2022

NCBiotech will host its Life Sciences Economic Development Summit in Durham, North Carolina. Don't miss this opportunity to network, learn about North Carolina's thriving life sciences sector, and explore opportunities for growth statewide in 2022 and beyond. 

Agenda 

8:00 a.m.     Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:30 a.m.     Welcome and NC Life Sciences Update 

A look at the trends and growth of North Carolina’s life sciences community over the past two years. 

• Bill Bullock, senior vice president, economic development & statewide operations, NCBiotech 

8:45 a.m.     Contract Research:  A North Carolina Success Story  

Contract research is one of North Carolina’s strengths and BioAgilytix is a home-grown leader in the industry. In this fireside chat, Bill Bullock and Jim Datin discuss BioAgilytix’s evolution since its start in 2008, why the company is continuing to grow in North Carolina today, and how to support future success in contract research.

• Jim Datin, CEO, BioAgilytix
• Bill Bullock, senior vice president, economic development & statewide operations, NCBiotech 

9:00 a.m.     Holly Springs:  How This Town Became a Global Biomanufacturing Hub

In 2021, both FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies and Amgen announced plans to establish biomanufacturing sites in Holly Springs and create more than 1,000 jobs in the town. In the same year, Crescent Communities began developing the Yield, a new life sciences campus that will support future growth. Learn about Holly Springs’ journey to become a leading life sciences location.  

• Irena Krstanovic, economic development director, Town of Holly Springs

9:15 a.m.     Projects That Grow a Cluster:  Seeding Small-Company Growth

Recruitment of smaller companies and incremental growth play a critical role in strengthening the life sciences community statewide. Discover why today’s small company growth will be tomorrow’s success story. 

• Randall Johnson, executive director, southeastern region, NCBiotech (Moderator)
• Hortense Dodo, Ph.D., president, IngateyGen  
• Geoff Foster, CEO & president, Core Technology Molding Corporation
• Jordan Schindler, chief executive officer, Nufabrx
• Gus Simmons, director of bioenergy, Cavanaugh & Associates; partner, Optima Bio

10:15 a.m.    Break

10:50 a.m.    Bio Jobs Hub

In partnership with WRAL, NCBiotech built the Bio Jobs Hub in 2020 as an online resource to raise awareness about life sciences careers in North Carolina. The site features success stories plus a wealth of information about available training programs and companies that are hiring to connect those companies with job seekers across the state.  

• Katie Daugherty, strategic business development project lead, Capitol B Creative Studios

10:50 a.m.    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Workforce Development

Local life sciences leaders provide industry insights into why diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) is important to their success and share examples of effective partnerships and initiatives for promoting DE&I in North Carolina and beyond.  

• Laura Rowley, Ph.D., vice president, life sciences economic development, NCBiotech (Moderator)
• Joe Owen, RTP site human resources lead, Eli Lilly & Company
• Joseph C Ruiz, Ph.D., president, Enzerna Biosciences
• Mari Beth Tandy, executive director quality site head, Amgen

11:45 a.m.    Lunch

12:15 p.m.    Keynote:  North Carolina's Strategic Economic Development Plan and Life Sciences

Machelle Baker Sanders, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Commerce, native North Carolinian, and experienced biotech leader, shares more about the role of the life sciences industry in the statewide economic development plan.   

• Machelle Baker Sanders, secretary, N.C. Department of Commerce

12:45 p.m.    Break

1:00 p.m.     Training Infrastructure:  Building a Foundation for Success

Access to talent is a top consideration for life sciences companies. Leaders from across the state share their ongoing efforts to expand dedicated training infrastructure and enhance their capacity and capability to meet the needs of life sciences employers.  

• Mark Phillips, vice president, statewide operations, executive director, eastern region, NCBiotech (Moderator)
• Kara Battle, Ed. D., vice president; chief academic officer, Durham Technical Community College
• Yonnie Butler, executive director, ACC Biotechnology Center of Excellence, Alamance Community College
• Loren Limberis, Ph.D., director, eastern region pharma center, East Carolina University 

1:45 p.m.     Site Readiness:  Making Space for Life Sciences Expansions

Is it possible to make a site too ready? How ready is ready enough? This panel will share their insights on zoning, speculative buildings, water, and other considerations to meet the unique needs of life sciences users. 

• Deb Boucher, executive managing director, Cushman & Wakefield (Moderator)
• Jimmy Randolph, chief executive officer, Sanford Area Growth Alliance 
• Courtney Skunda Hall, business development manager, BE&K Building Group
• Jim Nichols, director of business development, O'Brien Atkins Associates 
• Blake Stevens, vice president, head of Alexandria LaunchLabs, Alexandria Real Estate Equities

2:30 p.m.     North Carolina's Gene and Cell Therapy Story

North Carolina is increasingly recognized as a leading hub for cell- and gene-based therapy. Explore North Carolina’s history as a pioneer in gene therapy, along with our current and future roles in the success of these life changing therapeutics.  

• Kelly Parsons, Ph.D., associate director, technology commercialization, Univ. of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

2:45 p.m.     Break

3:15 p.m.     Site Selection in the Life Sciences Industry

This panel of experienced site selection consultants will share their insights and impressions on North Carolina’s growing life sciences community.  

• Chris Chung, CEO, EDPNC (Moderator)
• Jay Biggins, executive managing director, BLS & Co.
• Bob Hess, vice chairman, global strategy; vice chairman, global corporate, Newmark  
• Chris Schwinden, senior vice president, Site Selection Group

4:15 p.m.     Writing the Next Chapter Together

Learn about the NC Life Sciences Alliance and your role in strengthening North Carolina’s life sciences brand. 

• Denise Desatnick, vice president, marketing and research, EDPNC
• Mary Hecht-Kissell, vice president, corporate communications, NCBiotech

4:30 p.m.     Reception

Summit Presentations

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