President & CEO, Emergent BioSolutions Inc.

Mr. Abdun-Nabi is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Emergent BioSolutions, a NYSE listed global biopharmaceutical company  that pursues the development and commercialization of innovative products to prevent or treat infectious diseases, cancers, and autoimmune disorders. He has held this position since April 2012.  Prior to that, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer (March 2007 to April 2012), as Senior Vice President Corporate Affairs and General Counsel (December 2004 to April 2007), and as Vice President and General Counsel (May 2004 to December 2004) of the company.

Partner-In-Charge, Venable, LLP

Michael Baader is the Partner-in-Charge of Venable’s Baltimore Office. Mr. Baader previously served as chair of the corporate transactions group at Venable for seven years. His practice centers on all aspects of corporate planning and business advisory services to corporate clients, with a focus on representation of technology and growth oriented companies. Mr. Baader is well-versed in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, private equity and venture capital investments, financing transactions and general corporate planning. He also counsels clients in technology development and licensing, outsourcing, strategic alliance and teaming arrangements, consulting and service agreements, and distributor/dealer relationships.

He has regularly been recognized as one of the region's top business lawyers in the Baltimore Business Journal, Baltimore Smart CEO, Baltimore Magazine, Best Lawyers in America and Chambers USA. He is Martindale-Hubbell AV Peer Rated.

President & CEO, BioHealth Innovation, Inc.

Mr. Bendis is an entrepreneur, corporate executive, venture capitalist, investment banker, innovation and technology-based economic development leader, international speaker and consultant in the technology and healthcare industries. He currently serves as the founding President and CEO of Innovation America (IA), a national public-private partnership focused on accelerating the growth of innovation economy in America. As one of the most recognized experts in the field of innovation economy, Mr. Bendis has served on numerous distinguished boards and task forces including the White House U.S. Innovation Partnership Advisory Task Force, the Small Business Innovation Research Committee, the National Association of State Venture Funds board; State Science and Technology Institute, and the Ernst and Young Entrepreneurial Institute as a national/regional Judge.

Mr. Bendis has provided global consulting services to over 16 countries and 22 states, several cities and regions, along with international organizations including the United Nations, NATO, UK Trade and Industry, European Commission, French Embassy, the German Marshall Fund, The Canadian Consulate, METI, AKEA, the International Science Parks and Innovation Expert Group and other global entities. Mr. Bendis is a frequent consultant and speaker to 16 International innovation based economic development organizations, as well as over 20 states, regions and cities throughout the U.S. He was voted one of the Top 5 Speakers on innovation economy in 2012.

Executive Vice President, MedImmune

Scott Carmer joined MedImmune as executive vice president, commercial operations in July 2010. He is responsible for managing and directing the sales, marketing, sales operations, and global marketing functions. Mr. Carmer also plays an integral role in developing strategies to ensure the successful commercialization of MedImmune's current and future product portfolio.

Mr. Carmer brings to MedImmune more than 20 years of experience in the bio-pharmaceutical industry, most recently as Vice President of Rheumatology Sales and Marketing for Genentech. Before Genentech, Mr. Carmer was an executive director of global marketing at Amgen where he led a cross-functional international team responsible for the development and commercialization of products related to bone and metabolic disorders. Prior to Amgen, Mr. Carmer gained a great deal of his experience at GlaxoSmithKline. At GSK, he worked in brand management, business development, commercial operations, managed care contracting and direct sales. Mr. Carmer holds a Bachelor of Science degree in microbiology from the University of Kentucky.

President and CEO, Noble Life Sciences

Dr. Carter has been involved in the formation and early stage development of several biotechnology companies as a co-founder, consultant or member of the board of directors. He co-founded Avalon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in January 1999 and served as CEO for 10 years until 2009 when Avalon merged with Clinical Data, Inc. During this time, Avalon developed a unique biomarker-based drug discovery and development engine; completed an IPO and listing on the NASDAQ market; established drug discovery programs in colon, breast, pancreatic and hematological cancers; and established partnerships with Merck, Novartis, Sanofi-Aventis, and AstraZeneca/MedImmune.

Prior to that, Dr. Carter directed the gene mapping initiative at Human Genome Sciences, Inc. where he worked for several years and played a role in the discovery, cloning, and chromosomal mapping of dozens of novel human genes. Dr. Carter has served on the boards of directors for multiple biotechnology industry organizations including the Maryland Health Care Product Development Corporation and the National BIO Industry Organization. He also served recently as a special advisor to the Maryland Governor's Life Sciences Advisory Board and is on the Advisory Council for the Center for Biotechnology Education at Johns Hopkins University where he also holds an adjunct faculty appointment.

President & CEO, GenVec

Cynthia L. Collins has served as President and Chief Executive Officer and as a director of the Company since May 2012. Ms. Collins previously served as Group Vice President, Cellular Analysis Business of Beckman Coulter from 2007 to until its sale in 2011. Prior to joining Beckman Coulter, Ms. Collins served as Chief Executive Officer of Sequoia Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a private biotechnology company developing antiviral drugs. Prior to joining Sequoia Pharmaceuticals, Ms. Collins served as President of Clinical Micro Sensors, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Motorola where she directed the development and commercialization of molecular diagnostic microarray products and led the eventual strategic divestiture of the division. Before Motorola, she spent over 17 years at Baxter Healthcare in a variety of executive roles, including President of Global Oncology and Vice President of Strategy and Portfolio Management of BioScience. Prior to joining Baxter Healthcare, she worked six years with Abbott Laboratories in a series of operational assignments. Ms. Collins received her undergraduate degree in Microbiology from the University of Illinois and her Masters in Business Administration from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.

Senior Vice President, M&T Bank

Mr. Dagenais joined M&T Bank in 1985 in the Finance Department.  He has held a number of different positions within the Bank including Controller of the Bank and Regional President in both New York State and Pennsylvania.  He moved to Baltimore in 2008 and is responsible for the Bank’s activities in Healthcare, Not-For-Profit Banking, Government Banking, Commercial Equipment Finance and Financial Institutions.  In January of 2011 Mr. Dagenais additionally assumed responsibility as Regional President of Baltimore. Prior to joining M&T Bank Corporation, Mr. Dagenais worked with Peat, Marwick & Mitchell, CPAs from 1978 to 1985. Mr. Dagenais received his BBA from the Western Michigan University with a major in Accounting.

President, Johns Hopkins University

Ronald J. Daniels became the 14th president of The Johns Hopkins University in March 2009. A law and economics scholar, he holds an appointment as professor in the Department of Political Science at Johns Hopkins. Prior to his appointment, he served as provost of the University of Pennsylvania, and dean and James M. Tory Professor of Law at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. Daniels' own research focuses on the intersections of law, economics, development and public policy, in such areas as corporate and securities law, social and economic regulation and the role of law and legal institutions in promoting third world development. He is the author or co-author of dozens of scholarly articles, and the author or editor of seven books.

Daniels currently sits on the boards of the East Baltimore Development Inc., the Baltimore Community Foundation, the Goldseker Foundation, the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, the Governor's International Advisory Council, and the Asia Pacific Rim Universities World Institute. He is serving as a member of the Association of American Universities-Association of Leading Russian Universities steering committee to help guide collaborations between member universities. He is also engaged in the Center for Health Policy and Healthcare Transformation at Johns Hopkins. In 2009, he was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

President, SR One

Dr. Eckstein is the President of SR One which is the corporate venture capital arm of GlaxoSmithKline. He came to GlaxoSmithKline from TVM Capital where he was a Venture Partner, Entrepreneur-in Residence and appointed CEO and President of SelectX Pharmaceuticals. Prior to that, he was a General Partner in TVMs Boston life sciences practice where he focused on earlier-stage investments. He was a member of the Board of Directors for CoNCERT Pharmaceuticals, Enanta Pharmaceuticals, SelectX Pharmaceuticals, Rapid Micro Biosystems, Anchor Therapeutics, and an Advisor to Sirtris Pharmaceuticals.

Regional Managing Principal, Cassidy Turley

David Gillece oversees Cassidy Turley’s offices in Baltimore, MD. He also serves on the Board of Cassidy Turley. David has a strong background in Corporate Services, having served in senior positions with major accounts. He maintains a strong Advisory/ Tenant Representation practice. Major clients have included Legg Mason, Under Armour, Travelers, The Johns Hopkins University and RTKL.

David chairs Cassidy Turley’s Life Science practice group. He served as Chairman of the Board of the State of Maryland’s Enterprise Investment Fund, an early stage equity fund focused on young technology companies. He has also served as consultant to the University of Maryland Baltimore County in the development of its university research park and on the listing team at the Johns Hopkins and University of Maryland bioparks.

Prior to joining Cassidy Turley, Mr. Gillece served as President and CEO of the Baltimore Development Corporation, Baltimore City’s economic development agency. 

Chancellor, University System of Maryland

William E. Kirwan, Chancellor of the University System of Maryland since August 1, 2002, is a nationally recognized authority on critical issues shaping the higher education landscape. He served as President of Ohio State University for four years (1998-2002) and President of the University of Maryland, College Park for 10 years (1988-1998). Prior to his presidency, he was a member of the University of Maryland faculty for 24 years.

Currently, Dr. Kirwan chairs the National Research Council Board of Higher Education and Workforce, the College Board Advocacy & Policy Center Advisory Committee, and co-chairs the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics. He also is chairman of the Business-Higher Education Forum. In Maryland, Dr. Kirwan co-chairs the Governor's P-20 STEM Task Force and is a member of the Governor's International Advisory Board and the Maryland Economic Development Commission.

In 2007, Dr. Kirwan is a recipient of numerous honors and awards including the 16th recipient of the Maryland House of Delegates Speakers' Medallion and the Maryland Senate's First Citizen Award in 1998, and the 2009 Carnegie Corporation Leadership Award, which included a $500,000 grant to fund USM academic priorities. Dr. Kirwan received his bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of Kentucky and his master's and doctoral degrees in mathematics from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, in 1962 and 1964 respectively.

Senior Vice President of Global Operations, QIAGEN

Douglas Liu has a twenty five year record of international success in operations, strategic planning and Research & Development in molecular diagnostics, immunodiagnostics and other healthcare market segments. 

Douglas Liu is the Senior Vice President of Global Operations, a member of the Executive Committee and the senior QIAGEN Executive assigned in North America.  As the head of Global Operations, Douglas manages Manufacturing, Quality Control, Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs, and Supply Chain worldwide.   He is also the Chairman of the America Management Council at the QIAGEN Germantown/Gaithersburg/Frederick office where he provides leadership and guidance to all of the US subsidiaries, projects, and employees.  Under his management and commitment to success, QIAGEN North America has achieved and contributed to multiple successful projects and its growth, including the Germantown campus expansion.

Before joining QIAGEN, Douglas worked for Bayer Healthcare as Head of Operations for nucleic acid diagnostics in the US, and in strategic planning and consulting at Bayer AG in Leverkusen.  Prior to these positions, Douglas also worked at Abbott Labs and Chiron Diagnostics.

Douglas received his MBA from Boston University and his Bachelor Science degree from University of Illinois, Urbana

Douglas lived and worked in Germany for five years.  In 2007, Douglas and his family relocated back to United States. He has served in several local advisory boards since returning to the US including the Governor International Advisory Council & the MD Bio Tech Council of Maryland.

General Partner, New Enterprise Associates, NEA

David M. Mott joined NEA in September 2008 as a General Partner focused on biopharmaceutical investments. Prior to joining NEA, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of MedImmune, subsidiary of AstraZeneca Plc, and Executive Vice President of AstraZeneca. Dave joined MedImmune in 1992 and served in roles of increasing responsibility including Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President and Chief Executive Officer as the company grew from a venture-backed startup (founded in 1988) into one of the top five biotechnology companies in the world. Ultimately, he initiated and executed the sale of MedImmune to AstraZeneca in June 2007 for $15.6 billion. In 2002, Dave founded MedImmune Ventures and chaired its investment committee through his departure from MedImmune. At the time of his departure in July 2008, MedImmune had annual revenues in excess of $1.5 billion, annual R&D in excess of $650 million and approximately 3,000 employees.

Prior to joining MedImmune, Dave was a Vice President in the Health Care Investment Banking Group at Smith Barney, Harris Upham & Co. Inc. At Smith Barney, his activities included public and private equity and debt financings as well as merger and acquisition work for biotechnology, healthcare services, and medical product and device companies. Dave is currently Chairman of 3-V Biosciences, TESARO, and Zyngenia and is a director of Ardelyx, Epizyme, and Omthera. He also serves on the Governing Board of St. Albans School.

President and CEO, Adventist HealthCare, Inc.

William G. "Bill" Robertson has served as President and CEO of Adventist HealthCare, Inc. since spring of 2000 and has been a health care executive for the past 25 years. Based in Rockville, Adventist HealthCare is one of the largest private employers in Montgomery County, employing more than 6,000 people and caring for nearly 300,000 patients each year. Prior to joining Adventist HealthCare, Inc., Robertson served for four years as the Chief Executive Officer of Shawnee Mission Medical Center, one of the largest and most preferred hospitals in the Kansas City area and he was the Executive Vice President and CFO of Huguley Health System in Fort Worth, Texas from 1988 to 1996.

A Leadership Montgomery Outstanding Leader of the Year honouree in 2010, Robertson is involved with a wide range of community organizations including the Governor's Workforce Investment Board, the Governor's P-20 Leadership Council of Maryland, the Maryland Workforce Corporation Board; Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce Board, Strathmore Hall Foundation Board, IMPACT Silver Spring Council of Advisors, and Maryland Hospital Association's (MHA) Executive Committee, etc. Robertson received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Southern Adventist University and a Master of Business Administration from Texas Christian University.

Office Managing Partner, Ernst & Young

Jay Ridder is Ernst & Young’s Baltimore Office Managing Partner. Ridder, a 20-year veteran with Ernst & Young LLP, is responsible for all of the Baltimore office’s resources, including oversight of the firm’s assurance, advisory, tax and transaction services. Ridder previously served as the Baltimore office Assurance Leader, the East Central region Insurance Industry Leader and as Ernst & Young LLP National Managed Care Leader. His extensive client experience includes providing assurance, advisory, and transaction services to life and health insurance, property casualty, managed care and asset management companies. Ridder received his bachelor’s degree in Accountancy from Franklin & Marshall College. He is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia.

President and CEO, Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore

Tom joined the Economic Alliance in January of 2006 to manage the Region’s response to the 2005 Department of Defence Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) initiative. Since then, he has coordinated regional marketing efforts and reached more than 15,000 defence industry executives and military personnel. As President and CEO, he has launched the Alliance’s Promoting Greatness and Pride of Greater Baltimore campaigns, celebrating the region’s key industries, community leaders and champions in the business community.

Prior to the Economic Alliance, Tom served as Executive Director of Economic Development for Harford County, Maryland and as Business Development Director in Baltimore County, Maryland. In 20 years, Tom has brokered transactions exceeding $10 billion in value, resulting in approximately 60,000 jobs, and was recognized by the Baltimore Business Journal as one of “Top 40 Business Leaders Under 40” in 2001 and by the Greater Baltimore Technology Council as a “Believer in Technology.” Tom is an active member on various boards focused on economic development, entrepreneurship and education. Tom is a graduate of the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), a proud father and a ten-year cancer survivor. He, his wife Melissa and his two sons currently reside in Street, Maryland.

Assistant Chief Administrative Officer, Montgomery County, Maryland

Thomas J. Street is currently serving as an Assistant Chief Administrative Officer for Montgomery County, Maryland. He is one of four such administrators within the County's management team, and supports and advises the Chief Administrative Officer in the areas of customer service, emergency response, re-development, and transportation. Mr. Street's areas of responsibility include oversight of the County's MC311 Initiative and coordinating issues such as Wheaton revitalization, inclement weather response, pedestrian safety, the Purple Line and Corridor Cities Transitway mass transit projects, and affordable housing .He has worked in Public Sector Financial Management for 29 years and in the Private Sector as an owner of an ecommerce company and partner in a financial advisory practice for six years. Tom began his career as Budget Analyst for Montgomery County, Maryland but spent the majority of his Public Sector career with the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC). While at WSSC, Tom was the Director of Budget and Financial Planning for 8 years, and the Chief of Strategic Planning and Business Development for 2 years.

Tom is a past president and board member of the Maryland-D.C. Utilities Association and has been a guest lecturer for the World Bank, Caribbean Development Bank, Maryland-China Business Council and U.S. Department of Environmental Protection. Mr. Street has a BA from The University of Florida and a Master's in Public Administration from The American University in Washington, D.C.