About Us

Mission

CvilleBioHub is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2016 with a mission to accelerate the biotechnology industry in Central Virginia through engagement, resourcing, and education.

Vision

CvilleBioHub’s vision is to strengthen the life sciences ecosystem by doubling the size of the industry in the region by 2030, creating value, and reducing barriers for companies to thrive and grow.

Strategic Plan

2026-2029 Strategic Plan Highlights

  • Accelerating Biotech Growth:
    CvilleBioHub aims to double the size of Central Virginia’s life sciences industry by 2030 through expanded support for startups, enhanced lab infrastructure, and increased access to capital via its Commonwealth BioAccelerator.
  • Strengthening Industry Networks:
    The C-Suite Membership Program will deepen industry engagement, grow membership, and elevate the region’s national profile through events, thought leadership, and strategic partnerships.
  • Building a Skilled Workforce:
    A robust talent development strategy will create a regional bioscience talent pipeline, expand internships, and improve coordination among educators, employers, and workforce partners.

BIOBridge: Talent Pathways Initiative

CvilleBioHub, along with TEConomy Partners, the University of Virginia, Piedmont Virginia Community College, the Central Virginia Partnership for Economic Development, and regional industry leaders, unveiled preliminary findings from the forthcoming Talent Pathways Report—a data-driven regional assessment focused on the bioscience workforce in GO Virginia Region 9.

Early analysis shows a sector experiencing significant momentum:

  • 23% job growth since 2019
  • 2,100 bioscience jobs across 254 establishments
  • Average wages of $121,000
  • Continued expansion driven by new investments and increasing R&D activity

At the same time, employers report persistent challenges recruiting and retaining talent across high-demand occupations, including bioscience technicians, laboratory support staff, clinical and R&D roles, multidisciplinary engineers, and quality and regulatory specialists.

The study, incorporating extensive quantitative research, employer surveys, career outcomes data, and more than forty stakeholder interviews, identifies four regional priorities:

  1. Grow the pipeline for bioscience technicians and laboratory support roles
  2. Address specialized talent needs in highly skilled scientific, engineering, and commercialization roles 
  3. Build a coordinated regional framework to connect workforce initiatives, training providers, and employers 
  4. Develop and promote a unified regional bioscience identity to improve talent awareness and recruitment

Request access the full report here

Team

Nikki Hastings, PhD
Co-Founder, Executive Director
Dana Goldsmith
VP Business Development & Strategy
Taylor Cope
Head of Operations
Charlie Henneman, CFA
Program Director
Michael Hall, MPH - MPP, GMPro
Laboratory Manager
Tiffany Keaton
Marketing & Communications
Andy Krouse
Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Walter Colsman
Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Eli Harrison
Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Matt Neighoff
Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Sandra Poole
Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Devin Zitelman
Accelerator Advisor

Board Members

Payam Pourtaheri
Board Chairman
Will Mauldin, PhD
Board Member
Brooke Braun
Board Member
Evan Edwards, MS
Board Member
W. Blair Okita, PhD
Board Member
Pace Lochte
Board Member
Jerome Barillion
Board Member
Martin Chapman, PhD
Co-Founder & Board Emeritus
Nathan Evans, JD
Corporate Secretary
Carolyn West
Board Observer
Robert T. Heussner
Board Observer