BRCC governing board members announced
March 1, 2004
KALAMAZOO--Moving at what she described as "warp speed" to continue development of the Biosciences Research and Commercialization Center at Western Michigan University, WMU President Judith I. Bailey announced the names Feb. 27 of the individuals who will be part of the center's governing board.
Reporting on the center's progress to the WMU Board of Trustees, Bailey named the individuals who will be members of a 10-person BRCC Governing Board of Directors. Conceived in the spring of 2003, the BRCC aims to turn the latest bioscience discoveries into new processes and products for the commercial market, tapping into the expertise of former Pfizer scientists and other top researchers from around the nation.
The board will provide external and internal management oversight for the new center, which was established with $10 million authorized by the Michigan Legislature. The center received final authorization from the state's Technology Tri-Corridor Steering Committee Dec. 1, when members approved a five-year business plan.
Bailey said the board will meet for the first time Monday, March 29, to elect its leadership and begin considering proposals from 12 firms seeking assistance from the new center. Members of the BRCC Governing Board of Directors are:
Donald R. Parfet, managing director of the Apjohn Group LLC, a Kalamazoo-based business accelerator organization focused on early state life science opportunities;
Dr. Rawlie Hollingsworth, professor of biochemistry and chemistry at Michigan State University, an internationally recognized researcher in carbohydrate chemistry;
Teri F. Willey, managing partner of ARCH Development
Partners LLC, a Chicago-based venture capital firm that specializes
in research-based technologies;
Michael Jandernoa, chairman and CEO of Perrigo Co. of
Allegan, Mich.;
Dr. George Vande Woude, director of the Van Andel Research Institute of Grand Rapids, Mich.;
David Hollister, director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth ;
Donald Jakeway, president and CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corp.;
Dr. John R. "Jack" Luderer, vice president for research, WMU;
Robert M. Beam, vice president for business and finance, WMU; and
Dr. Judith I. Bailey, president, WMU.
Membership on the board for the heads of the MEDC, Van Andel and the Department of Labor and Economic Growth is spelled out in the legislation that created the BRCC. The remaining members are appointed by the WMU president.
Media contact: Matt Kurz, 269 387-8400, matt.kurz@wmich.edu