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The class of 2009, which consists of 33 emerging leaders in the greater Rochester area, elected to plan and execute a BioBusiness Summit in the city of Rochester in spring 2010. The class hopes to increase awareness of biobusiness opportunities in the region and to generate long-term economic impact for Rochester and the surrounding area.
"Our goal is to increase regional awareness of Rochester’s role as a leader and cornerstone in the advancement of biomedical technology,” says class chair Craig Oslund, a business development officer at Merchants Bank in Rochester. “A BioBusiness Summit will help sustain and support Rochester’s future economic growth through collaboration with other industry leaders.”
Knowing the importance of collaboration, the class has consulted with and garnered support from representatives from the City of Rochester, City of Pine Island, the Hormel Institute, Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), IBM, BioBusiness Alliance, Rochester Area Economic Development, Inc. (RAEDI), Rochester Convention & Visitors Bureau, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, Sunstone Hotels, Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce, Tower Investments, Mayo Clinic, and the University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR), just to name a few.
In addition to an immediate economic impact, the class hopes the summit will serve as a connection to existing business infrastructure in Rochester and as a natural extension of the Hormel Institute, IBM, University of Minnesota Rochester, and Mayo Clinic partnership.
The class’s next step will be to look closely at the vastly broad BioBusiness industry and work to narrow the focus of the BioBusiness Summit. To assist in shaping the scope of the summit, the class has assembled an advisory group that will provide valuable feedback and input.
Currently, the advisory board roster includes: Dr. Stephen Lehmkuhle, Chancellor at UMR; Tim Penny, President and CEO at Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation; Gail Dennison, PR and Development Director at the Hormel Institute; Drew Flaada, Director of Mayo Collaborations, Life Sciences and Advanced Systems Software at IBM; Rebekah Kent, Senior Program Manager at the BioBusiness Alliance; Bob Nellis, Communications Consultant at Mayo Clinic; Steve Van Nurden, Vice Chair Mayo Clinic Health Solutions at Mayo Clinic; Gary Smith, President of RAEDI; Sara Walbert of DEED; and, John Wade, President of the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce.
“The 2009 class is a dynamic, collaborative team of community leaders. They are committed to their personal and professional leadership development and actively taking a leadership role in the vitality of the Rochester community,” says Jess Ihrke, Vice President, Education & Workforce at the Chamber. “I have great confidence that they will, in fact, leave a lasting footprint in the Rochester community and continue to provide outstanding leadership in our community for years to come.”
For more information and updates on the progress of the MnE Bio Valley Summit, visit www.mnebiovalley.org.
© 2010 Rochester Chamber of Commerce Foundation
