3rd Annual BioDiscovery Summit and Reception

Carleen Bowers

 

 

Carleen Bowers is Vice President, Biological Products at Indigo Ag which improves grower profitability, environmental sustainability, and consumer health through the use of natural microbiology and digital technologies. Indigo’s scientific discoveries and digital platforms benefit stakeholders across the agricultural ecosystem, including tens of thousands of growers across millions of acres. Working across the supply chain, Indigo Ag is furthering its mission of harnessing nature to help farmers sustainably feed the planet. Carleen is also a board member of CvilleBioHub, and holds a B.Sc. from the University of Virginia, and a Ph.D. from Duke University.

 

 

 

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Kate Byrne

Kate Byrne is the Sr. Strategic Advisor for Thought Leadership for the Batten Institute for Innovation, Technology and Education, Chair of the TomTom Festival, and Lead for Ascending Angels, a grassroots effort increasing women’s financial prowess and involvement. She sits on the IMD Business School Editorial Board, as well as serves as the Secretary for the Board of IX Foundation. She actively advises female founded companies such as GirlsIntoVC, and is the podcast host for MediaVillage’s WomenAdvancing.org, Rebels with a Purpose, and In The Mixx, focusing on intergenerational polarizing topics.

Kate has been recognized as one of the 40 Most Influential People in Media, Marshall Goldsmith’s 100 Coaches, and has held executive positions at GoodLight Capital, SOCAP Global, Katapult X, Fast Company, BusinessWeek, INC., The Tides Foundation, The George Lucas Education Foundation, and Watermark.

Kate is a contributor for Authority Magazine, MarketWatch, Conscious Company Magazine, and is a frequent speaker. She graduated from Stanford with a B.A. in Psychology.

 

 

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Nikki Hastings

 

Nikki Hastings is co-founder and Executive Director of CvilleBioHub, a biotech accelerator in Charlottesville, Virginia focused on growing the local biotech sector. Nikki is also an adjunct faculty member teaching the biotechnology track at the McIntire School of Commerce at UVA. She has over 15 years of experience working with early-stage biotech/medtech and medical device companies, specifically with expertise in working with academic and first-time founders. She has led operations in executive management roles at companies including HemoShear Therapeutics, Contraline, and Cerillo. She holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Virginia, and a BS in Biomedical Engineering from NC State.

 

 

 

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Ben Johnson

Ben Johnson is Senior Vice President, Programs at BioSTL, where he leads its initiatives related to public policy, diversity/inclusion/equity, talent & workforce development, and fundraising. Since 2001, BioSTL has laid the foundation for St. Louis’ innovation economy with a comprehensive set of transformational programs leveraging the region’s medical and plant science strengths.

Ben currently serves as Chairman of the national Innovation Advocacy Council (IAC). The IAC informs and educates policymakers and elected officials to grow our innovation economy through federal legislation, programs, and funding that support practitioners on the ground. IAC is SSTI’s voice in Washington, DC. SSTI strengthens initiatives to create a better future through science, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship.

He also is a Board member of the Missouri Biotechnology Association, Missouri’s statewide biotechnology trade association, and St. Louis Makes, a nonprofit dedicated to reshaping St. Louis’ manufacturing future.

Ben received his M.B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis and his B.A. from Northwestern University, majoring in Economics and Political Science with a minor in Business German. He became an Eisenhower Fellow in August, 2022.

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Mike Nelson

 

Michael Nelson is a Venture Capital/Emerging Company Partner at Cooley, and his practice focuses on advising emerging and growth-stage life sciences and technology companies, and the funds that invest in them, on matters relating to corporate finance, corporate governance, licensing and other intellectual property-based transactions and mergers and acquisitions.

Mike holds a JD from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Virginia, a MS in Applied Anatomy from Boston University, and a BS from Willamette University.

 

 

 

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Thomas Thorpe

 

Tom Thorpe is the CEO of Afton Scientific, LLC, a company he founded in 1991. Tom also co-founded Shareholder Strategies, LLC and served as Managing Partner from 1995 to 2001. Prior to that, Thomas worked as an Associate at Houlihan Lokey and as Vice President at P. J. Noyes Company, Inc. in the pharmaceutical industry. Tom began his career as an Engineer at Bristol Myers Squibb and Lederle Laboratories. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Connecticut and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business.