“Setting the bar for the CDMO model”

Dr. Chacón is the Founder and former Chairman of Paragon Bioservices, Inc., a CDMO that specialized in process development and GMP manufacturing of viral vectors for gene therapy. In April of 2019 Paragon Bioservices, Inc. entered into a definitive agreement of sale for $1.2 billion with Catalent. Chacón is the Founder & President of IRAZÚ Bio-Holdings LLC., a company dedicated developing indications that promote survival, prevent disease and improve quality of life for the elderly. The company is also developing technology in the fields of immuno-oncology and gene therapy. Formerly, Chacón served as Assistant Vice President of Industry Alliances at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree from Youngstown State University and a Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Maryland. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the University of Maryland Foundation and was appointed in 2016 to the Life Sciences Advisory Board by Governor Lawrence J. Hogan, Jr. Additionally, Dr. Chacón is the founding chair of The Board of Visitors of the University of Maryland Graduate School.

“Investing with a higher purpose”

Mr. O’Neill is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of MLP Ventures, a leading venture capital and real estate investment firm. MLP Ventures creates companies that utilize real estate as an integral part of their business, as well as internet-based marketplaces. Under his leadership, MLP Ventures has developed millions of square feet of laboratory, office, industrial, retail and residential real estate throughout the Northeast. All of MLP companies and real estate recycle existing buildings, which often require environmental remediation. Mr. O’Neill has a track record of starting, scaling and operating healthcare organizations.

“Healthcare initiatives for underserved communities”

Alexander Karnal is Partner and Managing Director at Deerfield and joined the Firm in 2005. He is responsible for portfolio decisions and allocations across the Deerfield Funds. Prior to Deerfield, Mr. Karnal worked as a member of Merrill Lynch’s Global Equity Linked Products Group and as a member of its Capital Markets team. He serves on the Boards of the New York Academy of Medicine, Biotechnology Innovation Organization, Recovery Centers of America and the Children’s Health Fund. He is a member of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s corporate development committee, focusing on student life initiatives. Mr. Karnal holds a B.S. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and M.S. from Johns Hopkins University.

“Make primary care easier to access, insurance benefits simpler to understand and use and prescription drugs more affordable”

Mr. Stoddard most recently served as COO of Haven the healthcare collaboration from J.P. Morgan, Amazon and Berkshire Hathaway. Prior to this he served as an executive general manager for digital health at Comcast. Previously, he was on the founding team of Accolade, a Comcast Ventures-backed start-up that helps workers manage their health benefits. He was also part of the executive team that created claims processing engine Optum, which was later acquired by United Health. He is a senior operating leader with over two decades of experience applying technology, data, science, people, and design thinking to improve the healthcare consumer experience, elevate clinical quality and lower the total cost of care. He has proven leadership experience in understanding the market, setting growth strategy, and scaling transformational healthcare companies, including: Haven, Accolade, Optum, Health Dialog, and The Advisory Board. Jack holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and earned his bachelor’s degree at Denison University with highest honors. He serves on the boards of directors of Carrot, backed by Khosla Ventures and Eden Health, backed by Greycroft. He has also served on the Board of Trustees of the Philadelphia Outward Bound School.

“Unwavering faith, always maintaining a positive attitude, how to be a leader, humility, and so much more.”

Mr. Mita is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Icona Resorts, which owns and manages hotel properties in Avalon, Diamond Beach and Cape May, New Jersey. Mr. Mita is also Chairman of Mita Management, a company with interests in automotive and real estate, and is the Chief Executive Officer of Achristavest, LLC, a developer of waterfront properties in New Jersey, Nantucket, Maryland, Utah and Pennsylvania. Prior to forming Mita Management and Achristavest, Mr. Mita was the President and Chief Executive Officer of HAC Group, one of the world’s largest auto dealer training and consulting groups, with operations in nineteen countries, including Europe and Asia. In 2000, under Mr. Mita’s leadership, HAC merged with Reynolds & Reynolds, which has approximately 5,000 employees and a network of 10,000 dealer customers worldwide.

“As one of BioMed’s founders, Matt has been at the centre of our success in building a world-class tenant roster within every one of our seven core markets.”

Mr. McDevitt specializes in the leasing and sale of life-sciences real estate for tenants and landlords. Matthew founded and served as Executive Vice President of Real Estate for BioMed Realty Trust, Inc. where he played an instrumental role in all acquisitions and major lease transactions for the company. During his 10-year span, he maximized the shareholder value, growing its market capitalization from $475 million to $8 billion. Prior to BioMed, Matthew served as president of McDevitt Real Estate Services, Inc., a full-service real estate provider focusing on the life science industry. Before founding MRES, he spent 10 years as a commercial real estate broker in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area.

“We raise awareness of many life-threatening diseases, but also bring our team and our client’s team closer to the actual patients that will be impacted by our work.”

Tony is a 15 year veteran and leader in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry. As a member of the Project Farma leadership committee, Tony has spearheaded Project Farma’s growth in the gene and cell therapy space including building gene therapy facilities for Avexis. Tony has extensive experience with small and large molecules including biologics, biosimilars, and gene and cell therapies. He has worked with small and large biotech companies including gene and cell therapy startups and CMOs/CROs. He has led global programs greater than $350+ million in the following disciplines: project management, turnkey facility builds, automation, validation, engineering and serialization track and trace.

“There is a scarcity of manufacturing, which is complex, expensive, and highly regulated. With this additional manufacturing capacity, The Discovery Labs Center for Breakthrough Medicine will fulfill the promise of gene and cell therapies.”

Audrey Greenberg is the Co-founder and Executive Managing Director of The Discovery Labs, a global platform company streamlining the path to commercialization for ground-breaking pharmaceutical discoveries. The Discovery Labs includes several businesses including The Center for Breakthrough Medicines, Unite IQ, Testing Centers of America and DL Real Estate Specialty Services. Audrey is a member of the senior management team and board of directors where her efforts are focused on capital procurement, business formation, acquisitions, strategic planning and tactical execution. Audrey’s deep industry experience includes biotechnology, real estate, pharma services, and financial services.

Audrey started her career in public accounting at Deloitte & Touche in Chicago. Both before and after business school she was a Wall Street investment banker at Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley where she worked in the Financial Institutions Group doing M&A as well as debt financings and equity offerings. While at Morgan Stanley, she also worked on the fixed income trading floor specializing in high yield debt and derivatives. After a successful career in banking, she then ventured to the buy side to start a real estate private equity firm with three partners. Audrey oversaw a $7 billion open end core fund at ING Clarion ($50 billion AUM) and a $10 billion closed end fund series at CBRE Global Investors ($100+ billion AUM). She is an expert at REIT structures, off shore funds, tax strategies, financial structuring and capital introduction.

Audrey has a proven track record of spearheading multi-million dollar projects and transactions while simultaneously leading top-notch teams. Audrey has both strategic and tactical expertise in maximizing company value in businesses that support a greater social good, specifically in relation to health and wellbeing. Her experience includes launching several successful start-ups as well as growing businesses via organic and strategic growth. She has raised over $500 million for various ventures, managed over $10 billion in assets, and overseen and performed diligence on over $1 billion in acquisitions and spinoffs. She successfully brings socially-minded companies from idea to exit in a fruitful and expeditious manner.

Audrey is passionate about supporting her community and serves on several non-profit boards including the King of Prussia Business District, Har Zion Temple, the HSA at the NCCECE Preschool (also Treasurer) and the PTO at Radnor Elementary School (also Photographer). She is an active volunteer and has spent time as a Junior Achievement Coach, Mercy Home for Boys and Girls Friends First Mentor, United Way Crusade of Mercy Loaned Executive, and is currently an Emissary for Select Greater Philadelphia, a division of the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce responsible for attracting business to Greater Philadelphia.

Audrey has her MBA in finance and management from the Wharton School where she was a member of the Wharton Wildmen Ice Hockey Team and the Wharton Women in Business Golf Team. Audrey has her undergraduate degree in accounting and finance and graduated with high honors from the University of Arizona. She was a member of the National Honor Society, Beta Alpha Psi National Accounting Honors Fraternity, Alpha Phi Sorority, and was on the Dean’s List. Audrey is a registered CPA in the state of Illinois. Most importantly, Audrey is the proud mother of three young children and enjoys spending time exploring Philadelphia with her family.