Board of Advisors

Michael Annunziata is the Managing Director at Donnelley Financial Solutions, the largest SEC Filing agent in Life Sciences.   Michael is devoted to serving clients in the life sciences industry with accounting software, financial reporting solutions, SEC registration statements management, initial public offerings, and data rooms related to mergers and acquisitions and transaction support.   Michael’s +25-year background ranges from life science start-ups to commercial-stage companies, managing their fundraisers, crossovers, licensing agreements, and clinical trial data support.  Pre/Post IPO companies rely on Michael and his team for their deal preparations expertise at various stages of growth. Michael looks forward to supporting the goals of LSC to address both immediate and long term needs of individuals living in poverty.

Prior to joining Vectiv Bio, Mr. Applebaum was the Chief Legal & Compliance Officer and Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at Trevena, where he played a key role in gaining FDA approval for their lead product, Olinvyk®. Previously, he served as President of Context Therapeutics and was General Counsel at Vitae Pharmaceuticals, where he was instrumental in their sale to Allergan. Formerly, he was Chief Legal Officer for Medgenics, a rare genetic disease company. Mr. Applebaum spent 10 years at Shire, where his roles included heading up their global legal group, managing their neuroscience portfolio outside of the United States as SVP of the Neuroscience Business Unit and leading the implementation and execution of the regulatory strategy for all of Shire’s specialty pharmaceutical products worldwide as SVP of Global Regulatory Affairs, Quality Assurance and Compliance. Previously, he was Senior Counsel for medicines and medical imaging at Bristol Myers Squibb.

Prior to his career in the biopharmaceutical industry, Mr. Applebaum was a lawyer at Dechert LLP. He received his J.D. from Stanford Law School and a B.S. in Economics, Finance and Accounting from the University of Pennsylvania.

Angela Bagley is Vice President of Technical Operations & Regulatory Affairs at Trevena, Inc., an innovative biopharmaceutical company dedicated to delivering groundbreaking medicines to address the critical needs of patients with central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Angela is an accomplished technical executive in the life sciences industry, with a career spanning product development, process engineering, commercial launch, global supply chain, and product lifecycle management. She formerly worked at Bristol-Myers Squibb and Merck & Co., Inc. Angela has been an Advisory Board member for LogiPharma, Planning Committee chairperson for an alumni service organization, and program coordinator for multiple on-site events for the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association.

President and Chief Executive Officer

Chuck Baum, M.D., Ph.D.

Louis W. Beardell Jr. focuses his practice on intellectual property (IP) matters in connection with patent strategies, IP due diligence, litigation, and transactions. He assists clients in developing and implementing programs that protect products and inventions including trade secrets, particularly in the life sciences, technology, and financial services fields. For US and international clients, Louis negotiates and prepares the IP aspects of licensing and purchase agreements, as well as agreements relating to product and service supply, collaboration, research, consulting, patent litigation settlement, and material transfer.

Kristin Bhavnani is Head of Global Corporate Communications & Engagement for Jazz Pharmaceuticals, a global biopharma company whose purpose is to innovate to transform the lives of patients and their families. Kristin is also the co-chair for Jazz’s employee-led affinity forum committed to promoting the advancement and impact of women globally in the innovative biotechnology industry. With more than 20 years of experience, Kristin is an accomplished Corporate Affairs executive in the healthcare industry, with a career leading global, regional and in-market external and internal corporate and product communications teams in addition to patient advocacy teams driving Corporate Affairs strategies aligned to therapeutic areas including oncology, neuroscience and cardiovascular-metabolic. She formerly worked at AstraZeneca and Burson-Marsteller, a global PR/communications agency (now Burson). She graduated from Franklin and Marshall College and currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of Delaware Greenways.

Randy Brenner has been Paratek’s Chief Development and Regulatory Officer since June 2019. Since 2015, Mr. Brenner has been part of the Executive team leading the regulatory, quality and manufacturing activities for NUZYRA’s development and approval.

Prior to Paratek, Mr. Brenner was the Global Head of Regulatory Affairs at Shire Pharmaceuticals where he was responsible for all aspects of regulatory for a broad range of programs in multiple therapeutic areas and pharmaceutical technologies. Before that, Mr. Brenner was Head of Regulatory Affairs for the Emerging Markets and Established Products Business Units at Pfizer. In this role, he played an active part on the regional leadership teams and was responsible for the regulatory activities and staff leading the development, registration, launch, and life cycle of all of Pfizer's innovative products outside the United States and European Union as well as the Established Products business in all regions.

Prior to Pfizer, Mr. Brenner spent 14 years at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, where he held multiple senior regulatory positions.

Mr. Brenner has a B.S. in Chemistry from Muhlenberg College and an M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Temple University.

Topher Brooke is the Chief Operating Officer of SwanBio Therapeutics.  Topher has over 20 years of general management experience in healthcare across all phases of development and commercialization. He has worked across several modalities (proteins, small molecules, vaccines, and gene therapy) and across multiple therapeutic areas. Topher joined SwanBio from Aytu BioPharma who acquired the company he founded, Rumpus Therapeutics. Topher has held roles of increasing responsibility at Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, and AmerisourceBergen. Topher has a BA from Colgate University and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Charles Buck has held leadership positions in biotech, academia, cross disciplinary research, and higher education administration. He has served as a mentor, manager and community advocate. In his current position as Chief Innovation Officer for BioAnalysis, he is focused on business development and establishing new analytical technologies in support of gene and therapy biopharma companies. He has a lead role in promoting a positive impact in the Kensington neighborhood where BioAnalysis is located.

Tom is President & CEO of AOIC, LLC –a medical and scientific communications organization that helps biopharma and non-profit companies communicate clinical trial data and disease treatment advances. Tom has a BS in Chemical Engineering and an MBA from Drexel University. Prior to becoming President & CEO of AOIC, Tom served in several marketing and management roles for the company. In addition, he spent 15 years in business and engineering management for several pharmaceutical drug delivery and chemical manufacturing companies including FMC, Colorcon, and Allied Signal. A native of Pennsylvania and a resident of Chester County, Tom has served in community service for West Whiteland Township, Chester County, and the state of Pennsylvania for almost 18 years. He serves on the Board of the Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC) and the Ideas x Innovation Network (i2n). Tom also served on the Board of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for 8 years. Tom is married, and they have one son who loves sports, science, and math.

Rachael M. Bushey is a partner in the Life Sciences group at Goodwin. She joined the firm in 2023. Rachael represents public and private life sciences companies in connection with a variety of capital markets transactions; Securities Exchange Act work; mergers and acquisitions; complex divestitures and carve-out transactions. In addition to day-to-day corporate counseling and strategic advice, she also regularly provides counseling to boards of directors and senior management on a wide range of corporate governance and compliance matters. Rachael has significant experience negotiating transactions with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in the US, Europe, and Asia.

Barb’s 25-year background in finance and accounting management ranges from life science start-ups to commercial-stage companies. Prior to joining Danforth she served as CFO of Enterin, where she established the financial infrastructure to support the company’s progress in its clinical trials and preparing for the company’s capital raise. She previously held finance leadership roles at Egalet Corporation (Zyla Life Sciences), Sobi, Topaz Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Sanofi-Pasteur), Genaera Corporation and Vicuron Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Pfizer). Barb served as Director of Client Service at Resources Global Professionals (RGP). She began her career as an auditor at Deloitte.

In addition to her work at Danforth, Barb serves on the Board of Directors of Life Sciences Pennsylvania and the Board of Advisors of Life Science Cares Philadelphia.

Barb is a CPA and holds a BS in Accounting and MBA in Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Marketing from St. Joseph’s University.

Partnership to Prosperity helps create the foundation for a modern workforce where business, educational, and social interests intersect, so that all stakeholders prosper. Our guiding principles focus on the inter-relationship connecting work-ready skills, economic growth, and social justice, with the goal of developing a synergistic eco-system that fosters prosperity among educators, job seekers and employers.

CEO

ORIC Pharmaceuticals

Sommer Chatwin leads Business Systems at Braidwell, a life-science focused investment firm dedicated to serving the people and organizations that transform human health. Prior to joining Braidwell, Sommer served as the Chief of Staff to the Chief Operating Officer at Bridgewater Associates, a globally recognized investment manager of more than $150B for governments, central banks, pension funds, endowments, and foundations. In previous roles she worked in the Office of the Chairman, the Firm’s Client Service and Research departments. She began her career at Bridgewater focused on Executive Recruiting at the Senior Executive Level. Sommer is a former member of the Advisory Council of Woman in Innovation, is a Co-Founder of NeighborShare and an Avant-Garde Committee Member at Park Avenue Armory. Previously, she served as a Board Observer at Elemental Cognition, a Board Member of the Rainforest Trust, and as an Advisory Committee Member for Schools that Can, NYC. She received a B.A. in Economics from Towson University.

With over 18 years of experience at Morgan Stanley, Brett brings extensive expertise in working with corporate executives and private business owners. As a Private Wealth Advisor, he specializes in executive compensation, pre- and post-liquidity planning, and long-term financial strategies. Brett earned a B.B.A. in Finance from The George Washington University while participating in the University Honors Program. Currently, Brett lives in Center City, Philadelphia, with his wife Jackie, their children Dillon and Parker, and their French Bulldog, Penny. In his free time, he enjoys yoga, hiking, and traveling. Brett also serves on The Barnes Foundation Young Professionals Leadership Board and the Life Science Cares Philadelphia Advisory Board.

Recognition

• Forbes America’s Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors: 2017-2021
• Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: 2018-2023

Award Disclosures

2017-2021 Forbes America’s Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors & Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors Best-in-State (formerly referred to as Forbes America's Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors, Forbes Top 1,000 Next-Gen Wealth Advisors, Forbes Top 500 Next Generation Wealth Advisors)
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded 2017-2021). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on a 12-month period concluding in March of the year the award was issued.

2018-2023 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded 2018-2023). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on a 12-month period concluding in June of the year prior to the award issuance.

For full disclosures, visit: Morgan Stanley Awards Disclosure

Ryan is one of four principals of Tactix Real Estate Advisors, a premier commercial tenant representation firm in Philadelphia. Ryan has over 20 years of commercial real estate experience, three in development and the last 17 years exclusively representing tenants and other end-users of commercial real estate with leasing, acquisition, and disposition strategies. His clients include organizations large and small in a variety of industries including legal, non-profit, tech, healthcare, engineering, financial services, logistics, and life sciences. Ryan’s deep knowledge of real estate from both a development and leasing perspective and his extensive relationships throughout the region and across the country offers his clients unique insight and experience. Since joining Tactix in 2007 he has become a leader within the firm, growing its client base, recruiting new brokers, and raising Tactix’s profile in the region. Ryan was pivotal in spearheading Tactix’s move from Radnor to Center City Philadelphia and in establishing Tactix’s Wilmington, DE and new Malvern, PA offices.

Pete has been working at Wexford for 10 years and currently serves as Vice President, Development and Market Executive for Philadelphia. He actively manages the marketing, leasing, financing, operation and construction of uCity Square – Wexford’s project in the Philadelphia market. uCity Square is an 8.0 million square foot mixed-use development project located in West Philadelphia and University City from 34^th to 38^th along Market Street and north to Lancaster and Powelton Avenues. Specific buildings that Wexford manages include 3711 Market, 3737 Market, 3675 Market and 3401 Market. Most recently, led the development of nearly 1.4M SF of new space, valued at over $750M, and made up of five separate projects. Pete graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the Smeal College of Business at Pennsylvania State University. He is a member of the Urban Land Institute and a board member for NAIOP Philadelphia.

As a Principal in the Employee Benefits Consulting Group at EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants, my focus is on crafting innovative benefits strategies. The effective communication strategies and regulatory compliance measures we implement are pivotal in serving our diverse clients. I earned my bachelor’s degree from St. Joseph’s University. An active member in my local community, I am a board member of Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley and a board member of Neurodiversity Employment Network and a long-time member of Life Sciences Pennsylvania.

Jeffrey M. Dayno, M.D., is Chief Medical Officer for Harmony Biosciences. A nationally recognized expert in neuroscience, Dr. Dayno is currently responsible for managing research, development and medical and regulatory affairs for Harmony Biosciences.

He is a neurologist with 10 years experience in clinical/academic medicine followed by over 20 years experience in leadership roles at Merck & Co., Cephalon, and ViroPharma, building and leading clinical, regulatory and medical affairs teams toward multiple NDA approvals and medical support of successful product launches.

Dr. Dayno has served as Principal Investigator on numerous clinical trials and published and lectured extensively on various topics in the field of Neurology, with a focus on stroke, sleep disorders, pain and migraine. He has also served as a peer reviewer for several scientific neurology journals.

Dr. Dayno earned his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine, did his residency training in Neurology at Temple University Hospital, and completed a fellowship in Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disorders in the Department of Neurology at Henry Ford Hospital.

Christina Deaver is an Executive Director and Banker in the Philadelphia office of J.P. Morgan Private Bank. Together with her team, she delivers wealth management services to families, private business owners, executives, and foundations. Christina leads our local efforts working with founders and executives in the life sciences and healthcare spaces. A 16-year veteran of the firm, Christina advises clients on every aspect of wealth management across the entirety of their balance sheet. She helps develop tailored strategies to reach their individualized goals and is particularly focused on investment management, estate planning, banking, and lending.

Known for her energy and drive, which are apparent both at the office and in the community, Christina served as the Co-Chair of the Global Associate Advisor Committee, which develops junior talent. Outside of the office, she sits on the Board of Directors for Shake It Off, a non-profit focused on Parkinson's disease, and the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra Music Institute. Christina also serves on committees for the Pennsylvania Ballet, Association for Corporate Growth, and Women in Bio.

Christina obtained her M.B.A. from Villanova University and is a lifetime member of the business honor society, Beta Gamma Sigma. She holds a B.S. from Lehigh University where she earned a double major in Finance & Marketing and graduated with High Honors. At Lehigh, Christina captained the competitive dance team and was active in the Pi Beta Phi sorority.

Born and raised in West Chester, Pennsylvania, Christina enjoys exploring all that the Philadelphia area has to offer. Christina currently resides in Bryn Mawr with her husband, Will, and daughter, Liliana. In her limited free time, she enjoys international travel, golfing, and trips down the shore with family and friends.

Mike DeFeo is a Vice President in the Life Sciences Commercial Banking group serving Pennsylvania. He has worked for JPMorgan Chase since 2015. Mike develops relationships and provides financial solutions for life sciences companies throughout the state.

Prior to his current role, Mike was a Banker covering industry agnostic business in the Philadelphia market and was also a part of Chase’s Middle Market Banking analyst program in Seattle. Mike relocated to Philadelphia from Seattle in 2019. Mike is a Philadelphia native and started his career as part of JPMorgan Chase’s Corporate Analyst Development Program, a two year business leadership training effort.

Mike graduated from Tufts University with a B.A. in Economics and was a member of Tuft’s varsity football team. Outside of the office he enjoys golfing, reading, and traveling.

Antonio di Carlo, MD,CM, FRCSC, FACS Throughout my career in medicine, I've held esteemed positions such as Chief of Abdominal Organ Transplantation at Temple University Hospital and Chief of Transplantation at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children. My role as Professor of Surgery at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University allows me to share my knowledge and passion with future medical professionals. My research, particularly in xenotransplantation, ischemia reperfusion, and machine perfusion of organs, is aimed at pushing the boundaries of our field further. Serving on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Responsible Research Hospital (Italy) has been an enriching experience, connecting me with global efforts to ensure ethical and impactful medical research. My involvement in various national and international committees has not only allowed me to contribute to the development of transplantation medicine but also to advocate for policies that prioritize patient care and safety. Having practiced in four different countries, I've gained a valuable perspective on healthcare systems worldwide, enhancing my appreciation for diverse medical practices and reinforcing the importance of patient advocacy and ethical standards in healthcare. My journey, from being a first-generation college student to achieving leadership roles in medicine, has been driven by a commitment to excellence, innovation, and a deep-seated belief in the power of education and hard work. In alignment with my belief that physicians should be at the forefront of healthcare transformation, focusing on patient-centric care, I am currently completing an MBA with a Healthcare Concentration. This step is a testament to my commitment to leading by example, ensuring that my contributions to medicine not only advance the field technically but also elevate the standard of patient care globally, making healthcare more accessible, equitable, and effective for all.

Ms. Dubuk has a deep commercial background which includes over 20 years building teams, brands and organizations in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry, including roles of increasing responsibility overseeing US and Global pharmaceutical franchises. Genie has an exceptional combination of skills and experience that include marketing, sales, data analytics, operations, business development and diagnostics. Ms. Dubuk is a dynamic leader with a desire to impact patients and populations by promoting access, equity and inclusivity. Genie received a B.S. in Biology from California State University East Bay and an M.B.A from San Jose State University (California).

Phillip Duffy is a Principal based in Korn Ferry's Philadelphia Office. For the last decade, Mr. Duffy has been a member of the Firm’s Global Life Sciences Practice, specializing in partnering with entrepreneurial biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and life science companies and Venture Capital/Private Equity funds. Mr. Duffy’s primary focus is on C-Suite Biotechnology Executive Recruitment, with expertise in Chief Executive Officer, Research & Development, Investment, Non-Profit, and other key leadership related engagements. Mr. Duffy joined Korn Ferry in 2013, leading research strategy efforts across multiple life science verticals. Prior to joining Korn Ferry, Mr. Duffy worked as a Summer Associate for Merrill Lynch. Mr. Duffy received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the Rawls College of Business at Texas Tech University. He currently serves on the Rawls College of Business Recent Alumni Board and Vestry of Rittenhouse Square's The Church of the Holy Trinity. Mr. Duffy is a former member of the Susan G. Komen Board of Directors.

Ms. Ehrgott, Managing Director and Head of The Alexander Group’s Global Life Sciences Practice, brings more than 35 years of both global and national business development and executive search expertise to The Alexander Group. She has conducted searches for top C-Suite executives across research and development, commercial, finance, corporate development, tech ops, legal, information technology, compliance, human resources, and diversity and inclusion for Fortune 500 companies as well as private equity/venture capital backed emerging growth clients across multiple industries, including pharmaceutical, biotech, vaccines, generics, medical device, consumer packaged goods, manufacturing, not-for-profit, retail, financial services, and professional services.

Prior to joining The Alexander Group, Ms. Ehrgott was Head of Talent Acquisition for Europe & ROW as well as Head of Global Talent Acquisition Projects for Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics. Ms. Ehrgott was tapped by this newly formed division of Novartis not only for her consultative approach to executive search but also for her proven track record to achieve the “slightly impossible.”

Previously, Ms. Ehrgott was Co-founder & Partner of a national interim staffing firm that recruited executive level human resources professionals for a Fortune 500 client base.

She is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Lehigh University and a former classical ballet dancer.

With almost 16 years of executive search and life sciences industry experience, Dr. Ferrer's primary focus is to assist venture-backed and emerging high growth biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies in recruiting Chief Executive Officers, Heads of Research and Development, Chief Medical Officers, Chief Financial Officers, and Chief Business Officers.

In addition to her advanced scientific training, Dr. Ferrer has broad industry expertise with seven years of biotechnology and pharmaceutical company experience at both Amgen and Pfizer.

Prior to joining Korn Ferry, Dr. Ferrer served as director, worldwide business development for Pfizer, based in New York City, where she co-led product licensing and business development for the oncology therapeutic area. Previously, she was director, business development for Amgen, where she covered multiple therapeutic areas.

She received a doctorate of philosophy from the department of pharmacology, with a focus on neuroscience from Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons, and a master's of public health from Columbia's School of Public Health. She also received a bachelor's degree in French literature from Georgetown University.

Ashley is a Senior Vice President at Bench International with over a decade of experience serving the life science industry. Over the course of her career, she has successfully executed hundreds of retained search assignments, spanning the Board and C-suite levels, as well as Vice President and other leadership roles. Beyond her focus in the biotechnology industry, Ashley has experience in related sectors including medical devices, diagnostics, drug delivery technologies and personalized medicine.

Functionally, Ashley possesses expertise recruiting across the entire R&D spectrum, to encompass discovery, preclinical, translational medicine, clinical development, and commercialization. Her track record extends to recruiting across business and corporate development, finance, human resources and other operational disciplines through the value chain. Ashley has particularly excelled in filling challenging positions within fields such as Drug Safety/Pharmacovigilance, Regulatory Affairs, and Biometrics.

Ashley has partnered with a diverse array of clients, ranging from agile, venture capital-backed startups to multinational, publicly traded commercial organizations. She has consistently demonstrated her ability to place gender-diverse leaders and people from historically underrepresented communities. Ashley is proficient at cultivating and nurturing professional relationships through consistent communication, honesty and transparency. Her dedication to identifying top-tier talent, both in terms of technical aptitude and cultural fit, defines her as a true "headhunter" who tirelessly pursues excellence.

Entrepreneurial life science executive with a pedigree of developing innovative therapies, building companies, and leading R&D in both Biotech and large Pharma organizations. Former CEO of Century Therapeutics, a Biotechnology company that is harnessing the power of stem cells to develop curative allogeneic cell therapies for cancer.

John Fry was appointed Drexel University’s 14th president in 2010 and has served in higher education for his entire professional life.

A focal point of Drexel’s strategic plan is to become an even greater economic engine for Greater Philadelphia. Fry announced the creation of Drexel Ventures and Schuylkill Yards, a $3.5 billion mixed-use development on University. Under Fry, Drexel has seen a significant increase in fundraising and philanthropic partners. Landmark gifts in recent years include $50 million from Thomas R. Kline to support the Kline School of Law and $45 million from Dana and David Dornsife to support the Dornsife School of Public Health. A $400 million campaign reached its goal ahead of schedule in 2013, and in late 2017 Fry announced a new, four-year campaign to raise $750 million - already past the $600 million mark.

Fry came to Drexel from Franklin & Marshall College, where he served as president from 2002 and was instrumental in the college’s academic growth, campus and neighborhood development and improved finances. From 1995 to 2002, Fry served as executive vice president of the University of Pennsylvania. Before joining Penn, Fry was a management consultant at KPMG Peat Marwick and then with Coopers & Lybrand’s National Higher Education Consulting Practice.

In addition to leading Drexel, Fry served two years as chair of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, concluding his tenure in October, 2018. He previously served as chair of the NCAA Division III Presidents Council and chair of U.S. Squash. He was appointed by President George W. Bush to the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Commission. In January, 2020, he was appointed to the board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.

A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Fry graduated from Lafayette College and earned a master’s degree in business administration from the New York University Stern School of Business. Fry and his wife, Cara, an art historian, have three children.

Experienced Medical Director and Catheterization Laboratory Director with a demonstrated history of leadership in the hospital & health care industry. Skilled in Medical Devices, Critical Care Medicine, Healthcare, Medicine, and Patient Safety. Strong research professional graduated from Fox School of Business at Temple University.

Daniel Griffing is Managing Partner of Griffing Speizer & Partners LLC. Most recently he served as Vice President and Head of Global Marketing for Orchard Therapeutics PLC from 2018 to 2020 a leading gene therapy company dedicated to transforming the lives of patients with serious and life-threatening rare diseases. Previously, Mr. Griffing spent 20 years at Merck & Co., Inc. in various commercial leadership roles across sales, finance, market access, new product planning and marketing in Global HQ, Region (Europe, Middle East, Africa) based in Zurich, Switzerland, and Local (U.S. Market) assignments. Mr. Griffing holds a BSc. in Business Administration from The College of New Jersey an M.B.A. from Saint Joseph's University and completed postgraduate education at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Eric Hacherl is a Managing Partner at SMART Bio Works, a consultancy established in 2020 to bring commercialization expertise and workforce development solutions to the Life Sciences industry. He is also COO of Kyttaro Therapeutics, a cell therapy start-up that is producing groundbreaking work using genetically modified mesenchymal stem cell lines for therapeutic treatments. Formerly, he was Vice President and Head of Manufacturing at Spark Therapeutics, headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In this role, he was responsible for internal and external manufacturing, materials management and manufacturing science & technology (MS&T). Prior to joining Spark, Eric was Site General Manager and VP of Operations for Catalent Gene Therapy in Baltimore, MD. Earlier in his career he served in increasingly responsible operations and technical roles during his 15 years with Merck & Co. With 25 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Eric’s subject matter expertise includes operations, supply chain and MS&T in large-molecule and vaccines, as well as cell and gene therapy. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Rutgers University, funded by an NIH Biotechnology Training Fellowship and the U.S. Department of Energy. Eric lives in the suburbs of Philadelphia with his wife Jean and their two children. They enjoy anything that involves being active and outdoors. Favorite pastimes include hiking, camping, skiing, fishing, and snorkeling.

Leading commercial strategy and organization at a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on rare conditions with a well-defined biology that can be targeted with transformational therapeutics.

Ms. Harte-Hall currently serves as Chief Compliance Officer of Cabaletta Bio and was Head of Clinical Quality and Compliance at Adaptimmune where she built a compliance program and helped establish a culture of integrity to drive ethical behavior in the management and conduct of clinical trials. Ms. Harte-Hall developed and implemented Quality and Compliance programs focusing on risk management and compliance functions to improve activities such as regulatory monitoring, auditing, and managing alignment with policies, procedures and controls. Ms. Harte-Hall has held various positions in Quality and Compliance in companies such as Centocor, Wyeth and Pfizer. She currently serves as a committee member for the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM) Accelerator Group, The Research Quality Association (RQA) and a member of the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE). Ms. Harte-Hall holds a Master of Science in Psychology from Capella University and BA in Business Administration from St. Leo University.

Jenny Herritz is a Principal at SVA Life Sciences, providing management consulting services catering to clients' diverse needs within the life sciences sector. In a dual role of advisor and leader, Jenny collaborates closely with organizational executives to implement and actualize strategic initiatives aimed at building or optimizing their operations. With a proven track record, she has played a pivotal role in streamlining operations for organizations transitioning from R&D to clinical stages or from clinical to commercial phases. Leveraging her expertise in business applications and analytics, Jenny effectively collaborates with functional leaders across various domains such as commercial, medical affairs, finance, IT, and HR. Her extensive experience spans multiple therapeutic areas, including oncology, rare disease, CNS, cardiology, lab diagnostics, and cell and gene therapy, among others.

Donna Higgins is Founder & CEO of The Higgins Group, Inc., one of the oldest and most successful search firms in the life sciences. Founded in 1998, the firm has grown exclusively through referrals as a result of Donna’s simple but powerful business philosophy: to develop lasting relationships with a select group of clients by doing great work. This drive for excellence infuses every aspect of the firm’s work due to a culture that values superior results, exceptional teamwork, and doing the right thing. Although her team has diverse backgrounds and experiences, all of The Higgins Group consultants, researchers, and associates share Donna’s energy, optimism, integrity, and grit.
Over her 30 years’ in the life sciences, Donna has gained a global reputation for her insight, expertise and integrity. Prior to starting her own firm, Donna was Vice President & Life Sciences Practice Lead for HFA International, where she built the life science practice by consistently exceeding her clients’ expectations. Before search, Donna worked on commercial teams at both ends of the life sciences spectrum, dividing a decade between Abbott Laboratories, a Fortune 50 pharmaceutical company, and Immunex, an emerging biotech company at the time.
Donna holds an MBA from Drexel University and a BA from Penn State University. Committed to lifelong learning, she joined the Coaching Certification Program at Columbia University to continue sharpening the strategic coaching she provides to clients and candidates. She is an Advisory Board member for Life Sciences Cares and the Association of Women Entrepreneurs, and a Board member for Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region and ACHIEVEability. She also serves as adjunct faculty at the Center for Positive Leadership, where she is a frequent speaker on women in business. Donna divides her time between the company’s Philadelphia and Boston offices.

Ted is a Managing Director and Founder of Centerline Consulting with over 25 years of experience in the biopharmaceuticals space. He leads the firm’s life sciences service offering and has broad experience across all major therapeutic areas. He has extensive experience in launching new pharmaceutical products including brand strategy development, launch management and in helping small pharmas/biotechs scale-up their commercial infrastructures for their first launch. His work ranges from CEO/CFO support of small pharmas/biotechnology companies with fundraising, financial planning and corporate strategy to supporting big pharmas with brand and therapeutic area strategy. Prior to founding Centerline, Ted held positions at Deloitte Consulting, where he was a leader in the Life Sciences Strategy & Operations sector, at Pfizer in the Portfolio & Decision Analysis team, and at Teva Pharmaceuticals where he was the Head of North America Branded Launch Management.

Chris is a Trust Solutions partner at PwC with extensive experience leading audit engagements in the Health Industries sector. Chris has served clients ranging from private biotech start-ups to large, multinational public companies. Chris has experience with IPOs and other going public transactions and has worked with clients in the sector on numerous complex technical transactions. Chris is a graduate of Villanova University and currently resides in Wayne, PA with his wife and two children.

Jonathan Kfoury is a former Managing Director, Senior Partner, and Partner Emeritus with L.E.K. Consulting, a leading global strategy consultancy, focused on healthcare and life sciences. In these roles he led over 100 engagements across therapeutic areas and business needs for innovative healthcare organizations. Jonathan has been recognized as one of the industry’s Top 50 Healthcare Leaders by The Consulting Report and shared his perspectives with The Economist, Financial Times, National Academy of Sciences, and other leading sources.

Throughout his career Jonathan has helped biopharma and healthcare delivery organizations address key policy, R&D, pricing, commercial, and strategic issues; he has also actively published white papers and spoken on some of the most pressing topics facing the industry, including most recently around the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act, clinical trial strategy, the global AMR threat, and infectious-disease R&D.   Over the years he has been particularly active in the infectious disease (esp. AMR / antibiotics), immunology, rare disease, neurology, and oncology spaces including advanced therapeutic modalities.

Jonathan is passionate about non-profit efforts in healthcare and serves as an Executive Board member for the Bay Area Global Health Alliance.  He has also led a range of pro bono projects with L.E.K. focused on helping innovative non-profit organizations grow their societal impact (e.g., Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy).

Prior to joining L.E.K., Jonathan held multiple operating roles within Biopharma companies, including as manager of global Clinical Development for Cubist’s / Merck’s blockbuster antibiotic Cubicin®- the most successful IV antibiotic launched in US history. In addition to global management training at INSEAD, Jonathan earned an S.M. in Health Policy & Management from Harvard University and his Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience from Trinity College.

Outside of work, Jonathan is a jazz and rock musician (piano) and enjoys travelling and getting into the wilderness with his family.

Brian Kreiter is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Braidwell, a life-science focused investment firm dedicated to serving the people and organizations that transform human health. Prior to co-founding Braidwell, Brian served as Chief Operating Officer of Bridgewater Associates, a globally recognized investment manager of more than $150B for governments, central banks, pension funds, endowments, and foundations. At Bridgewater, Brian co-developed the firm’s Sustainable Investing effort and was a member of the Board of Directors, where he served as Chair of its Governance Committee. In previous roles, he served as Chief of Staff to the firm’s founder Ray Dalio, Department Head of Client Service, wherein he oversaw the firm’s commercial activities and delivery of consultative advice. Prior to that he was Department Head of Investment Research, where he worked with the firm’s CIOs to develop understanding of the global economic system and translate that understanding into systemized, signal-based investment strategies. Brian also served as Chairman of the Board of Elemental Cognition, a groundbreaking Artificial Intelligence company, which he launched as a partnership between Bridgewater and Dr. David Ferrucci, principal investigator of IBM Watson. Before Bridgewater, Brian was a consultant at McKinsey & Company, where he served a range of clients including alternative investment managers. In 1998, Brian co-founded LIFT, a national organization that continues to help families break the cycle of poverty for which he and his co- founder received the 2004 National Jefferson Award for Public Service. In 2020, he co-founded NeighborShare, a technology-driven nonprofit helping frontline heroes spotlight families in need to ‘neighboring’ donors who can provide immediate support. Brian received a B.A. from Yale University and an M.B.A from Harvard Business School.

KJ is responsible for cultivating and maintaining tenant and landlord relationships within Philadelphia’s bustling life sciences industry. It’s KJ’s goal to help his clients find the functional facilities they need based on their specific requirement. KJ has lived in the greater Philadelphia area for over 15 years, and most recently worked for one of the regions top retail brokerage firms where he had experience handling both tenant and landlord representation. KJ received a BA in Supply Chain Management from The University of Rhode Island in 2017.In his free time, KJ enjoys outdoor activities. Hiking, camping and exploring new places, as well as being active in several sports leagues within the city of Philadelphia.

Co-founder and CEO of Context Therapeutics, an emerging women's oncology company.

Laura Liotta is the Founder, President, and CEO of Sam Brown Inc., a leading independent, full-service healthcare communications and public relations agency. With over 25 years of experience, Laura has supported public and private life sciences companies across all sectors, helping them tell their stories strategically and creatively.

Under her leadership, Sam Brown Inc. has become well known for delivering smart strategy, powerful messaging, expert media relations, and impactful digital and social media solutions across all therapeutic areas. In 2024, Sam Brown Healthcare Communications joined Blue Matter, a life sciences consulting firm, further expanding its reach and impact within the industry.

Laura is a trusted advisor to C-suite executives and board members, providing expert guidance on corporate launches, IPOs, acquisitions, and crisis communications. She is also an accomplished media and presentation trainer, helping a variety of spokespeople—including executives, scientists, and advocates—become more effective communicators.

As an entrepreneur, Laura is proud to have built a novel agency model centered on highly productive remote teams that deliver outstanding client results. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Laura finds her greatest joy in her three children and inspires others to create the life they want.

Tia Lyles-Williams, D.Sc. – affectionately known as Dr. Tia, is the 1st African American Queer Woman to own and lead a biopharmaceutical manufacturing company – 68 years after the 1st African American Man, Dr. Percy Lavon Julian with his company, Julian Laboratories, Inc. in Chicago, IL. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Howard University, Master of Science in Entertainment Business from Full Sail University, and a Master of Science in Regulatory Science from University Southern California. Dr. Tia has dedicated her career to the biotech/biopharma industries – including bioprocessing development, building large-scale bioprocessing facilities, developing/training/leading teams and commercializing proprietary biological assets via global regulatory affairs. She has been working in the biotechnology / biopharmaceutical industry for 22+ years – including formerly interning at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as well as a former contractor at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR in Silver Spring, MD). Her former employers include Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (now GSK) – Rockville, MD; Amgen, Inc. – Thousand Oaks, CA; Baxter BioScience (now Takeda) – Thousand Oaks, CA; Avid Bioservices – Tustin, CA; Lonza Pharma & Biotech – Portsmouth, NH; and Jazz Pharmaceuticals, PLC – Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Tia is a Three-Time Life Science Start-Up Founder – Founder & CEO of LucasPye BIO (2018), a Contract Development Manufacturing Organization (CDMO); Founder & CEO of HelaPlex (2021), the 1st Commercial Life Science Accelerator for Life Science Start-Ups and Virtual Biotechnology Companies; and Founder & CEO of Jackson Taylor Therapeutics (2023) – a Genomic AI Therapeutic Drug R&D Firm. o date, Dr. Lyles-Williams has raised +$2.5M USD to support her Health Equity Conglomerate via her three (3) Life Science Start-Ups. As a Champion of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion within the Workplace, STEM Education and Healthcare – Dr. Lyles-Williams has made it her mission to lead by example via the following initiatives: • 2019 BioDiversity Graduate at the Partnership, Inc. • LucasPye BIO’s C-Suite is made up of 50% Women & 85% People of Color • HelaPlex, LucasPye BIO & Jackson Taylor Therapeutics has partnered to remove Health Disparities by mapping the Human Genome for the BIPOC Community – including researching & developing drugs to improve healthcare outcomes / treatment options for People of Color • Black Latin-X Indigenous Institutes of Health (BLIIH), along with its strategic partners – including HelaPlex; Jefferson Institute for Bioprocessing (JIB); University City Science Center; and The Business Center for Entrepreneurship & Social Enterprise will be piloting BioWorks – a Commercial Biotech Workforce Training Program for Philadelphians in Fall 2024 o The program is an alternative career path for members of Marginalized Communities to enter the biotech / biopharma workforce as a Bioprocess Operator or Quality Control Technician – including training & certification opportunities for individuals to continue their education and attain higher-levels employment, i.e., from Specialist & Entry-Level Management up to Executive Management, C-Suite & Entrepreneurship o Committed employers (to date) that will hire BioWorks Graduates and BioWorks Fellows include: LucasPye BIO, HelaPlex, Delaware State University, Jackson Taylor Therapeutics, CR Clinical, and Weaver Medical Center. Dr. Lyles-Williams is a board member at LaunchBio and Independent Business Alliance: Greater Philadelphia’s LGTBQ+ Chamber of Commerce. She’s also a Business Mentor for Princeton University’s Entrepreneurship Council & Charles Drew University of Medicine & Science. As a Biopharma Executive and Pillar of the Life Science Industry – Tia was named “Unicorn” by Philadelphia Magazine (2020); recognized as a 2021 Forbes NEXT 1000 Honoree, listed as 1 of Inc. Magazine’s 2021 Female Founders 100; a recipient of the PHL Inno 2022 Fire Award on behalf of LucasPye BIO from The Philadelphia Business Journal; and featured in Philadelphia Tribune’s People on the Move” for 2022. On May 12, 2022, Dr. Lyles-Williams was conferred as an Honorary Doctorate in The Sciences from the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA. Most recently, Dr. Lyles-Williams participated as a panelist at The White House Summit for Biotechnology and the Bioeconomy in the U.S.; and her work at LucasPye BIO was highlighted at the 2023 USPTO World IP Day in D.C.

Link to Dr. Tia speaking at The White House: https://youtu.be/LcP9zPNuUh4?si=Yq5ejdd0ClzejgMS

Transactional executive with a foundation of cross-functional commercial experience in the Life Sciences industry. Key competencies include:

M&A Advisory & Capital Raising
Corporate & Business Development
Management Consulting
Strategic Marketing
Sales & Sales Management

Executive with >20 years of pharma and biotech experience in strategic and operational roles at global, regional and country level in US, Europe and Emerging Markets.
Multiple startup experiences, setting up commercial strategy and organization, building strong teams and inspiring them to successfully launch brands in multiple therapeutic areas in both Hospital and Retail.

John Maslowski is Chief Executive Officer and President of Forge Biologics, previously serving as Forge's inaugural Chief Commercial Officer. He served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Castle Creek Biosciences, Inc. from January 2020 to March 2021 and served in the same role at Fibrocell Science, Inc. (a NASDAQ rare disease cell and gene therapy company) from 2016 until Fibrocell was acquired in 2019. Prior to the acquisition, Mr. Maslowski served as Senior Vice President of Scientific Affairs and Vice President of Operations of Fibrocell between 2012 to 2016. Mr. Maslowski has extensive experience in the field of cell and gene therapy, including advancing D-Fi, a genetically modified autologous fibroblast therapy, to pivotal clinical trials, and LAVIV ®, a non-modified autologous fibroblast therapy, through U.S. FDA approval and commercialization. Mr. Maslowski also serves on the board of Alliance for Regenerative Medicine, the scientific advisory board of Castle Creek Biosciences, and the advisory board of Life Science Cares Philadelphia. Mr. Maslowski previously served as the Chairman of the board of directors of Falcon Therapeutics, a privately held Durham, N.C. company focused on the development of cell therapy products for oncology, from 2019 to 2021, and on the board of directors of Castle Creek Biosciences and Fibrocell from 2016 to 2021. Mr. Maslowski has 20+ years of experience in pharmaceutical and biologics development at major pharmaceutical companies including Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Merck & Co., Inc., and Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. Mr. Maslowski received his B.S. in biology from Ursinus College and his M.S. in microbiology from Villanova University.

Amanda Murphy joined the CZ Biohub Chicago as Chief Operating Officer in September 2023. Murphy spent much of her career as a tenured healthcare senior equity research analyst and a partner at William Blair & Company, L.L.C., covering various life sciences services, tools & diagnostics, and biotech companies.

Most recently, she has held various roles across finance and corporate development. As CFO of MaxCyte, she spearheaded cross-over and IPO financings, raising $300 million in capital. Murphy developed corporate development experience as Head of M&A and External Innovation at Ginkgo Bioworks and served as Chief Development Officer for DA32 Life Science Tech Acquisition Corp (a partnership between Arch Venture Partners, Deerfield Management, and venture capital firm Section 32).

She has an MBA from Northwestern University majoring in accounting, finance, and economics, holds a Chartered Financial Analyst designation, and has a Bachelor of Science from Boston College’s Honors Program.

Mr. Murray joined BVF Partners L.P. in 2013. Prior to joining the General Partner, Mr. Murray was an Associate at Leerink Swann in the strategy consulting division where he advised pharmaceutical and biotech clients on M&A strategy, due diligence, clinical development strategy, and commercial opportunity assessments. He holds an A.B. in Human Evolutionary Biology and a Secondary Field in Economics from Harvard College.

Michelle Ottey, PhD, HCLD is a Philadelphia native, and completed a post doctoral fellowship at University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine in Genetics from Thomas Jefferson University.  She transitioned from research science to science management and joined Fairfax Cryobank in June 2006, eventually becoming the Lab Director. Michelle dedicated fifteen years to building a strong, effective, and efficient team with Fairfax Cryobank while serving on the Medical Advisory Board and as the Spokesperson for Cryobank.