Colorado BioScience Association Appoints Sharklet Technologies CEO As New Chairman Of The Board

Eight new board members represent state’s growing biotech, device, diagnostic industries; research institutions

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) announces the appointment of Mark Spiecker as its new chairman of the board of directors. Spiecker, the CEO of Sharklet Technologies and outgoing CBSA vice chairman of the board, will lead CBSA for a two-year term. He was appointed along with eight new board members and nine returning board members during the CBSA annual board retreat on April 22.

“Colorado’s bioscience sector continues to flourish thanks to the dynamic business environment in Colorado and the comprehensive services and support offered by the Colorado Bioscience Association. Along with my fellow board members, I’m proud to serve an organization that contributes to the success and vitality of our bioscience community.”

Spiecker is replacing outgoing chair Derek Cole, the President of Investor Relations Advisory Solutions, who will continue to serve on the CBSA board and executive committee through 2016.

Joining Spiecker and Cole in CBSA board leadership positions are:
Vice Chairman: Scott Larson, Senior Vice President, Legal, and General Counsel, Terumo BCT
Treasurer: Jim Wilson, Partner, E&Y
Secretary: Lisa Drake, Director of Government Affairs, Monsanto

Newly appointed board members include:
Ginny Orndorff, Director, CID4
Kate Tallman, Associate Vice President, University of Colorado Technology Transfer Office
Alan Rudolph, Ph.D., Vice President for Research, Colorado State University
Gary Connell, Co-President, Sheridan Ross
Lauren Costantini, Ph.D., CEO, Prima-Temp
Milo Metcalf, Vice President of Operations, Allosource
Fintan Steele, Ph.D., Executive Director of Communications, SomaLogic
Larry Blankenship, Evergreen Research

Spiecker, the new chairman of the board, leads Sharklet Technologies, Inc., which develops surface technologies designed to address microorganism growth and make healthier, safer and cleaner environments. He guides a team of scientists, business development professionals and product developers who are focused on Sharklet™ – the world’s first and only micro-texture based on the microbe-resistant properties of sharkskin. Sharklet is manufactured into product surfaces including medical devices to manage bacterial survival.

Mark Spiecker, Chairman of the Board for CBSA, said:

“Colorado’s bioscience sector continues to flourish thanks to the dynamic business environment in Colorado and the comprehensive services and support offered by the Colorado Bioscience Association. Along with my fellow board members, I’m proud to serve an organization that contributes to the success and vitality of our bioscience community.”

April Giles, President and CEO of CBSA, said:

“We look forward to additional growth under Mark and the executive team’s stewardship, and we thank Derek Cole for his leadership and our outgoing board members for their extraordinary commitments of time and talent to support CBSA and our state’s bioscience industry.”

Re-appointed board members include:
Lisa Drake, Director of Government Affairs, Monsanto
Brent Fassett, Partner, Cooley
Kiki Traylor, M.D., Director of State Government Affairs, Amgen
Dan Wittenberg, Partner, Snell & Willmer LLP
Mark Lupa, Ph.D., Partner, High Country Venture
Dick Hinson, Senior Vice President, Aurora Economic Development Council
James Chomas, Ph.D., Founder & CEO, Surefire Medical
Steve VanNurden, President & CEO, Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority

Industry leaders comprised of representatives from the state’s biotechnology, medical device, diagnostic, pharmaceutical, healthcare and research sectors, as well as businesses that provide critical products and services to bioscience companies make up the board of directors.

Board members commit to a three-year term and work in partnership with CBSA staff to support the growth of Colorado’s more than 600 bioscience companies. Names and biographies of the full board of directors are available on the CBSA website.

About the Colorado BioScience Association

The Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) is a not-for-profit corporation providing services and support for Colorado's growing biosciences industry. With more than 350 members, CBSA actively works to promote the growth of the industry by working for a better business environment, grow the state's biotech workforce, advocate for policies that support a strong bioscience industry in the state, and speak with a single voice on behalf of the industry. For more information, visit http://www.cobioscience.com.

Connect with CBSA: Twitter @COBioscience, Facebook and LinkedIn