Please join VirginiaBIO, James Madison University, the Shenandoah Valley Partnership and public and private partners as we highlight education and industry innovations in the biotech arena in the Shenandoah Valley.

This event will bring together businesses engaged in the bio sector, regional research assets and academic partners, marketing and economic development professionals to highlight exciting bio innovations in the Shenandoah Valley and the surrounding region.  Attendees will discuss current research and academic offerings related to bio at JMU, Blue Ridge Community College, and other workforce partners, and identify opportunities for networking, collaboration and business development.  The day will end with a casual Beer & Biotech event in downtown Harrisonburg.

JMU offers the state’s only undergraduate biotechnology degree, and the Valley is home to leading bio companies making advancements in human and animal health, agricultural and industrial bio, health care delivery and manufacturing.  Join us as we learn more about public and private university-based bio assets in this region.

AGENDA

Festival – Highlands Room

9:45 AM               Coffee and Networking

10:00 AM             Welcome

               Jeff Gallagher, CEO, Virginia Bio

               Marta Bechtel, Director, Biotechnology Program, JMU

10:15 AM             Morning Session – Economic Development and Industry

                                  Moderator – Jeff Pompeo, President & CEO, CareTaker Medical Devices, Inc 

                                    George Anas, Director of Economic Development, Rockingham County

                                    Sonny Meyerhoeffer, President, Eastern BioPlastics

                       Tom Voss, Director, Center for Infectious Diseases, SRI International                       

                       Michael Renfroe, Professor of Biology, JMU

11:45 AM             Lunch

                      Remarks by Delegate Steve Landes

Bioscience 1007

1:00 PM               Afternoon Session – Higher Education and Workforce Development

                                  Moderator -Tomika Ferguson, Director of Community Partnerships, JMU

                                    John Downey, President, Blue Ridge Community College

                       Kathlynn Brown, Director of Macromolecular Bioscience, SRI International

1:30 PM               Open Discussion on Workforce Needs

2:00 PM               Overview of JMU Biotechnology Program

                     Marta Bechtel, Director, Biotechnology Program, JMU

2:30 PM               Bioscience Lab Tours and Student-Faculty Research Poster Display

3:15 PM               Adjourn

Downtown Harrisonburg

3:45 PM                Biotech and Beer - Tour of Pale Fire Brewery

Directions and Parking

Parking is available at Convocation Lot A (entrance at D9 on the JMU campus map).  If using Google Maps for directions, type in “JMU Convocation Center” as your destination. 

Lot A is on the south side of the Convocation Center, and is accessible from University Blvd.  From there, a JMU shuttle will transport you to the Festival Conference and Student Center (G7 on the campus map).  The shuttle will run on a loop from 9:30 to 11:00am in the morning, and will return participants to their vehicles between 2:45 and 3:45pm, once the Bioscience lab tours wrap-up.  If you would prefer to walk from Lot A to Festival or vice versa, the travel time is approximately 15 minutes by way of University Blvd. and Carrier Dr.  Please contact Ben Delp at (484) 686-2540, if you have any parking or travel questions.