SCBIO announces 2018 Board of Directors and Executive Committee for life sciences organization
January 7, 2018
SCBIO has announced its 2018 Board of Directors and Executive Committee following formal confirmation at the life science organization’s December 2017 meeting in Columbia. Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation CEO Lou Kennedy will serve as SCBIO’s 2018 Board Chair.
Ms. Kennedy joined Nephron Pharmaceuticals in 2001, and assumed the position of President and CEO in 2007. She has held a variety of marketing and operational roles during her career and has helped Nephron Pharmaceuticals grow by 300% and increased shipped product to one billion doses each of the last seven years. Nephron recently built a state of the art manufacturing facility in West Columbia, South Carolina and, with her husband Bill, helped establish the Kennedy Pharmacy Innovation Center in conjunction with the USC School of Pharmacy.
Joining Ms. Kennedy as officers on the SCBIO Executive Committee will be Craig Walker, CEO of VidiStar LLC as Vice Chair; Michael Rusnak, Executive Director of the Medical University of South Carolina Research Foundation as Treasurer; and Kathryn Cole Becker, Principal of Translational Science Solutions as Secretary. Additional members of the Executive Committee are Jeff Stover, Special Counsel with Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, PA as Legal Officer; Stephanie Yarbrough, Partner with Womble Bond Dickinson, LLP as Annual Conference Officer; Bryan Davis, Operations Manager with Greenville Health System’s Office of Innovations as Healthcare/Innovation Officer; and Sam Konduros, President and CEO of SCBIO. Immediate Past Chair, Erin Ford, who now serves as the organization’s inaugural Vice President, was honored for her extraordinary board service during the December Board meeting.
Also elected to the 22-member Board of Directors for SCBIO are Darralyn Alexander, President of Reimbursement Strategies LLC; Mandy Brawley, Deputy Director of the South Carolina Department of Commerce; Jerry Chang, Vice President of Business Development for BioD; Matthew Couvillion, Attorney with the Wyche Law Form; J.J. Darby, State Government Affairs Leader for Johnson & Johnson Services; Tressa Gardner, Associate Vice president of the Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology at Florence-Darlington Technical College; and Mike Graney, Vice President for Global Business Development of the Charleston Regional Development Alliance.
Completing the 2018 Board of Directors for SCBIO are Chad Hardaway, Associate Director of the Office of Economic Engagement at the University of South Carolina; Willard Harms, VP of Medical Affairs for Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina; Dr. Martine LaBerge, Chair of Clemson University’s Department of Bioengineering; Marc Metcalf, Business Recruitment Officer of the Upstate SC Alliance; Kathy Phlegar, President of Phlegar & Associates; Christine Dixon Thiesing, Director of Academic Programs for the South Carolina Research Authority; and Courtney Warren, Life Sciences Practice Chair for Marsh & McLennan Agency.
SCBIO President and CEO Konduros praised the Board and Executive Committee noting, “With the important work we are undertaking to actively advance life sciences R&D, biotech, med-tech, and digital health industries in South Carolina, we require strong, expert leadership from all across the state, fully integrating the business, education and economic development sectors. I am confident that these diverse leaders who reside in communities ranging from Murrells Inlet to Florence in addition to Greenville, Columbia, and Charleston, will effectively champion our vision of building the business of life sciences in South Carolina in 2018 and for years to come.”
SCBIO is South Carolina’s investor-driven public/private economic development organization exclusively focused on building, advancing, and growing the life sciences industry in the state. The industry already has an $11.4 billion annual economic impact in the Palmetto State, with more than 400 firms directly involved and 15,000 professionals employed in the research, development and commercialization of innovative healthcare, medical device, industrial, environmental and agricultural biotech and products. The state-wide nonprofit has offices in Greenville, Columbia, and Charleston, and represents companies in the advanced medicines, medical devices, equipment, diagnostics, IT, and healthcare outcome industries.
The Board of Directors is the policy- and strategy-making body of the organization, and meets regularly to receive updates on SCBIO business and objectives, as well as domestic and global initiatives. The Executive Committee serves roles specific to SCBIO operations, focus areas and strategies.
SCBIO is the official state affiliate of BIO — the world’s largest trade association representing biotechnology organizations. SCBIO members include academic institutions, biotech companies, med-tech companies, entrepreneurial organizations, service providers, thought leaders, economic development organizations and related groups whose members are leading the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotech and med-tech products that will make a difference across the Palmetto State, and around the world.
For additional information on SCBIO, visit www.SCBIO.org.
