Peter M. Pellerito of BIO to share a National Perspective on Best Practices That Support Bioscience Industry Growth at AZBio Trailblazer Awards Luncheon December 1, 2011.
The Arizona BioIndustry Association (AZBio) today announced that Peter M. Pellerito of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) will present a keynote on best practices for state bioscience industry growth at the AZBio Trailblazer Awards on December 1, 2011 as the community gathers to honor state leaders.
The AZBio Trailblazer Awards and Appreciation Luncheon honors the legislators and elected officials who are blazing the path for Bioscience Industry Growth in Arizona. Ten Arizona Legislators will be honored on December 1, 2011 for their service to the community and for championing education, innovation and the growth of Arizona’s bioscience sector. Joining them at the event will be leaders from Arizona’s bioscience and business community as well as Mayors and elected officials from Arizona’s bioscience hubs.
“Having Peter Pellerito join us at Trailblazer this year is a great benefit for our community,” shared Joan Koerber-Walker, president and ceo of AZBio. “In his leadership role at BIO as Vice President for State Government Relations and Alliance Development, Pete supports state leaders around the country to develop programs that promote the growth of bioscience innovation, industry growth and best of all, high paying jobs. While Arizona’s bioscience sector is leading the way both in advancing science and in job creation in our state, we can always use more great ideas especially those with proven results.”
Arizona’s leading educational, research, and industry partners are making it happen on the front lines and the support of state legislators and elected officials to clear the path for growth with a commitment to quality education, scientific discovery, and a business environment where companies are attracted to Arizona, created in Arizona and most importantly choose to stay and grow here is a key component.
Each year, AZBio shares with the community the key factors that lead to growth in this vital economic sector. The 2011 Trailblazer honorees were selected based on their engagement with the bioscience community as well as committee and voting records on key issues that shape the key bioscience growth factors. The 2011 Trailblazer Honorees are:
Speaker of the House Andy Tobin District 1 R
Representative Anna Tovar District 3 D
Representative Chad Campbell District 14 D
Representative Doris Goodale District 3 R
Representative Heather Carter District 7 R
Senator Jack Jackson Jr. District 2 D
Senator Kyrsten Sinema District 15 D
Senator Michele Reagan District 8 R
Senator Rich Crandall District 19 R
Representative Vic Williams District 26 R
According to Battelle, from 2002 until today, bioscience jobs in Arizona have grown 32%, the number of bioscience firms including research, manufacturing, testing, medical labs, and healthcare delivery systems have grown 28% and research partnerships with the National Institutes for Heath has increased 65%. Arizona bioscience organizations now generate $21 Billion in annual revenues and $765 Million in state and local taxes. Community investments statewide include 7 new bioscience incubators and accelerators, 14 new research institutes, 16 new bioscience schools and educational programs and the attraction of investments from global leaders in healthcare and the biosciences who have elected to locate or expand operations here and now call Arizona home.
“Arizona’s impressive progress is not the result of short term thinking, one-time investments, or partisan politics” added Koerber-Walker. “It is the result a community committed to working together to build a world-class research base, support commercialization efforts, and migrate the latest discoveries from the bench to the bedside and from the field to the shelf in a manner that is both translational and transformational not just for our industry but for our community as a whole. The Trailblazer Awards give us the opportunity to thank our elected officials and legislators for being part of the team that is blazing the trail for bioscience industry growth in Arizona.”
About BIO:
BIO is the world’s largest biotechnology organization, providing advocacy, business development and communications services for more than 1,100 members worldwide. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. Corporate members range from entrepreneurial companies developing a first product to Fortune 500 multinationals. BIO also represents state and regional biotech associations, service providers to the industry, and academic centers. The mission of BIO is to be the champion of biotechnology and the advocate for its member organizations – both large and small.
About AZBio:
AZBio is a not-for-profit, 501 (c) 6 trade association promoting the growth of Arizona bioscience companies. The Association is comprised of member organizations in business, research and education, economic development, government, and other professions involved in the biosciences. As the unified voice of the bioscience industry in Arizona, AZBio strives to make Arizona a place where bioscience organizations can grow and succeed.
AZBio accomplishes this by…
- creating a forum for the bioscience community to join together to engage, connect and collaborate.
- educating policy makers and the public about the benefits of our industry to the community.
- advancing the economic interests of individual organizations as well as the sector as a whole.
As the state affiliate in Arizona of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the preeminent national association for biotechnology companies and of AdvaMed, the largest association representing manufacturers of medical devices, diagnostic products and medical information systems, AZBio has access to information, contacts, resources, cost saving programs, and access to a global bioscience community which are deployed to support the growth of the bioscience sector in Arizona.
Additional information about the Arizona BioIndustry Association and Arizona’s bioscience community as well as the 2011-2012 Bioscience Key Initiatives may be found at www.AZBIO.org.
The AZBio Trailblazer appreciation luncheon for AZBio members, elected officials and legislators which will be held at the Phoenix Country Club from 11 AM to 1 PM.
For information on attending the AZBio Trailblazer Awards and opportunities to get actively engaged showing your appreciation to our elected officials and legislators at the event please visit:
https://www.azbio.org/events/event/azbio-trailblazer-awards-and-legislator-appreciation-luncheon
For additional information regarding this press release, contact:
Joan Koerber-Walker, 480-332-9636, jkw@azbio.org