“Your vision, strategic planning, creativity, and persistence were all key to making this event a big success…You and your team are the best kind of partner that we can have. I'm really looking forward to continuing to work together on next steps.”
“Our strategic partnership with Prescience in planning and executing the BioExec Institute has been a very positive experience for our firm. We view this partnership as critical to the Institute's success. They help us and UC-Berkeley, develop a unique, first-class executive program that makes it compelling for senior leaders within the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors to attend. The team at Prescience is hands-on and executes in a cooperative and disciplined manner, enabling the Institute to increase the level of awareness of the issues facing the industry and engaging global leaders in developing the answers.”
Prescience International is a dynamic team that is passionate about creating change through innovative solutions. With a collective expertise that penetrates a wide variety of sectors and issues, Prescience delivers high quality results that fits the needs. Additionally, the Prescience Management Model allows for our team to work more closely on a project by actually becoming part of the team that is on the ground at a designated site.
Melinda Richter - Founder & Chief Executive Officer
With over 15 years of global experience in creating, financing and managing innovative companies in emerging and convergence technologies, Melinda Richter specializes in accelerating the development of products-to-market, and companies-to-investment.
Ms. Richter is the founder and CEO of Prescience International, a full-scale management firm that focuses on accelerating the commercialization of science and technology by starting and operating life science and cleantech centers of innovation, including incubators, institutes and foundations. The Prescience innovation center portfolio now includes the San Jose BioCenter, the Environmental Business Cluster (EBC) and Janssen Labs.
Under Ms. Ricther's leadership, the San Jose BioCenter—a $12M state-of-the-art 40,000sf life science research center and incubator—was named one of the best life science incubators in the U.S. by CNN, and was honored by the National Business Incubation Association with its 2009 Incubator of the Year Award. She was also instrumental in raising more than $3M in funds, $3M in donations for its operational growth and new revenue streams.
Ms. Richter also oversees the EBC, one of the first cleantech incubators ever to be established in the U.S. Ranked as a "Top 10 Incubators Changing the World" by Forbes.com, the EBC has successfully attracted more than 22 cleantech companies and continues to lead the way in pushing forward innovative emerging green technologies.
To open January 2012, Janssen Labs, part of Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, will be led by a team under Ms. Richter's guidance. Janssen Labs will enable innovative life sciences companies to rapidly deliver better solutions to the healthcare challenges faced today.
Prior to Prescience International, Ms. Richter created and directed the ASTIA Life Science Incubator (formerly the Women's Technology Cluster). She also served in strategic roles with Nortel Networks, where she spent more than 8 years working throughout Asia, North America, Europe, and Central and Latin America. While at Nortel, Ms. Richter addressed acquisitions, strategic planning, marketing, contract negotiations, engineering and manufacturing optimization, world trade market development, and general management of an IT business unit. She left Nortel to start eTreasurer, an online financial services portal for SMEs.
Ms. Richter currently sits on the governing board of the National Business Incubation Association and the boards of University of California Berkeley's Haas School of Business BioExec Institute, the San Jose State University's Masters of Biotechnology Program and UCSF's School of Dentistry. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Saskatchewan in Canada and an M.B.A. from INSEAD in France. She currently resides in San Francisco.
Scott Korney - Chief Operating Officer
Scott Korney brings nearly 30 years of extensive experience at both creating strategic plans and optimizing facility operations. His areas of expertise include real estate transaction and occupancy/TI execution of over 1 million sq. ft. of life science R&D laboratory, GMP production and release facilities. Scott is well recognized in the Bay Area Life Science industry as an accomplished leader with expertise in Facilities Development, Operations, Environmental Health & Safety, Security, Site Services, Utilities/Sustainability Management, Asset Management, Regulatory Compliance and Capital Project Management. Scott has provided these outstanding services to leading worldwide pharmaceutical and research corporations as well as start-up ventures.
In the early 1980's, Scott developed the R&D facilities (laboratories and greenhouses) for Atlantic Richfield's venture into biotech genetic engineering. In the early 1990's, he co-founded Plant Research Technologies, a Contract Research Organization, conducting EPA and FDA regulated environmental fate and risk assessment studies for a variety of large pharma and ag-chemical companies (clients including Smith-Kline Beecham, Zeneca, Proctor & Gamble, Solvay, Isagro s.r.l. Italy, Pfizer Animal Health, Pitman-Moore, Mallinckrodt, Uniroyal Chemical, and Chevron). In 1997, Scott joined Scios Inc, where he led the renovation and validation of GMP manufacturing facility and subsequent sale of campus, build out of new labs and offices and business relocations. In 2004, Scios was acquired by Johnson & Johnson and Scott led the design and development of a 300K sq. ft. state-of-the-art R&D campus. He also led the master strategic plan to acquire adjacent greenfield properties to support over 1 millions sq. ft. of new research and support facilities. In 2008, Scott was recruited to join the Pfizer, Biotherapeutics and Bioinnovation Center (BBC), where he directed a portfolio of R&D facility operations in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Southern California and SF Bay Area (including the new 100K sq. ft. Mission Bay facility at Mission and 3rd Street). With the Pfizer 2010 acquisition of Wyeth, Scott assisted CRE with the assessment and development of playbooks for the properties within his BBC portfolio.
scott@prescienceintl.com
Tel: (408) 960-3807
Steven Brewster - Vice President of Marketing & Public Relations
Steven Brewster is vice president of marketing and public relations at Prescience International. In this role, he is responsible for strategic marketing, branding and promotion of Prescience and its portfolio of projects, including the San Jose BioCenter, the Environmental Business Cluster, the UC Berkeley BioExec Institute as well its special events with a focus on health, science and energy. He brings to the position deep experience in high tech and consumer strategic public relations and corporate communications. Through integrated marketing communications program planning and execution, media relations and executive-level communications counsel, he has successfully addressed and contributed to organizations’ overall growth strategies and ensured that targeted messaging moved and supported how these organizations positioned themselves among their key constituents.
Previously, Brewster served as economic development officer for the City of San Jose’s Office of Economic Development and was in charge of positioning and driving San Jose’s image and programs nationally and internationally, including the San Jose Green Vision. While there, he successfully raised recognition of America’s 10th largest city among statewide, national, and international media and opinion leaders to further impact the City’s overall economic development strategy, focusing on increased air service, federal funding and visitor/convention attraction, business investment and talent attraction.
He also held the role marketing and communications director for the Computer History Museum, the world’s largest institution dedicated to computing history. In this role, he was responsible for strategic planning and brand development, positioning integration and consistency, and media relations among top tier general and high tech media globally and within the San Francisco/Silicon Valley community. In support of brand-building initiatives for the Museum, Brewster partnered with All Things Digital (a Wall Street Journal conference) Garage Technology Ventures, IBM, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Sun Microsystems, CRN and Clear Channel Outdoor. Additionally, he worked extensively with Museum trustees—many of whom are world-renowned high tech luminaries—leveraging their profiles to build momentum and long-term support for the institution.
Brewster also worked with public relations pioneer, Ms. Andy Cunningham, founder and CEO of Cunningham Communication, Citigate Cunningham and CXO Communication. He served as the marketing director/executive communications strategist at all three organizations and was responsible for developing and producing agency brand marketing and public relations initiatives to advance business goals and build agency reputation. He was also responsible for communications strategy counsel, media relations and executive-level project management for specific agency client engagements, for Andy and for her non- and for-profit boards, including ZeroOne: The Art and Technology Network. His client work included projects for AMD, Cisco Systems, the Computer History Museum, DaimlerChrysler, Liberty-Greenfield, the US Department of State and Young Presidents’ Organization.
Brewster’s other experience includes corporate marketing communications manager for Coastal Hotel Group and national public relations manager—and member of an integrated marketing team—for the Memphis-based Promus Companies, the former parent company of the Embassy Suites Hotels, Hampton Inns, Homewood Suites and Harrah’s Entertainment brands. While in the hospitality sector, he worked with executives in developing visibility campaigns surrounding regulatory compliance, industry vision and growth, destination marketing and health issues. Other professional highlights include special projects for Viacom’s Nickelodeon Network, including the multi-market cable affiliate and press promotions in support of Nickelodeon Studios opening in Orlando.
Brewster began his career as a marketing representative for Whittle Communications and received a B.S. in journalism/public relations from the University of Tennessee.
steven@prescienceintl.com
Tel: (415) 730-8330
Minh Miran, PROJECT MANAGEMENT & OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
Minh Miran manages all aspects of business operations and project management for Prescience International and its projects to ensure the staff and office continue to operate at the highest level of efficiency and achieve optimal performance. In her role, Mrs. Miran helps to define and continuously improve all business processes and operational flows; oversees executive budgeting and reporting functions; manages the administration of human resources policies, procedures, programs, and best practices and provides general support to the CEO. Mrs. Miran plans, schedules and controls activities to fulfill identified objectives applying technical, theoretical and managerial skills to satisfy project requirements. Mrs. Miran comes to Prescience with over 14 years in business and operations management, having worked for such companies as American Capital, Ltd., Pacific Media, Monster Cable, Blanc & Otus Public Relations and State Farm Insurance. Mrs. Miran has a bachelor of science in Accounting from Saint Mary's College, Moraga, Calif.minh@prescienceintl.com
Tel (408) 781-8483
Erika Kula - DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND NEW VENTURES
Ms. Kula is the Director of Business Development and New Ventures for Prescience International. As a senior member of Prescience International, Ms. Kula is responsible for the recruitment and screening of the high potential companies housed in the award-winning San Jose BioCenter and Environmental Business Cluster, securing world-class sponsors and partners for the facilities, identifying growth opportunities for Prescience and the ultimate execution of these opportunities.
Prior to Prescience International Ms. Kula was responsible for sales and management of corporate accounts at Equilar, Inc, the market leader for benchmarking executive and director compensation and providing corporate governance related information to over two-thirds of the Fortune 500 companies. In her capacity she was responsible for the management of over 200 accounts such as Eli Lily, Disney, Home Depot, Gap, AutoNation, and Capital One.
Ms. Kula holds a BA in Biological Sciences and Political Science from the University of Southern California and a Certificate from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, Center for Executive Education for their 2008 Business Executive Program and 2009 Cleantech Exec Program.
erika@prescienceintl.com
Tel: (415) 828-1498
Chelsea Hewitt - Director OF NEW VENTURES
Ms. Hewitt is the Director of New Ventures for Prescience International, a firm dedicated to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship through innovation centers dedicated to acceleration of cleantech, life sciences, and other technologies utilizing chemistry, biology, and engineering. As a senior member of Prescience Intl, Ms. Hewitt is responsible for the strategy behind market expansion, delivery of services, financing of opportunities, and the ultimate execution of those strategies. Ms. Hewitt also directs the commercialization efforts via the Annual Investor Forum for the National Cancer Institute SBIR and directs the annual UC Berkeley BioExec Institute.
Ms. Hewitt began her career in international incubator management with London-based, multi-media incubator and investment firm, Illuminator Plc., where she was responsible for the market analysis and due diligence to support the funding of prospective portfolio companies. Following her time with Illuminator, Ms. Hewitt lead the entrepreneurial program at Astia, where she managed all marketing communications, oversaw external program development, and directed the Annual Venture Conference; an emerging company showcase to over 400+ attendees. Ms. Hewitt has a BA in History from the University of California Santa Barbara and a Certificate from UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business, Center for Executive Education for their 2004 Business Executive Program.
chelsea@prescienceintl.com
Tel: (415) 405-6385
STEPHANIE DOBYNS - MARKETING MANAGER
Stephanie Dobyns is the Marketing Manager for the Environmental Business Cluster (EBC), a cleantech incubator fostering entrepreneurship in clean energy innovation within the Silicon Valley. She is responsible for the development and execution of various events and programs within the EBC. Ms. Dobyns has spent the last 7 years in the environmental remediation industry analyzing the treatment of contaminated soil and groundwater at various sites, including Brownfields. She began her career as a remediation technician for Stantec in San Diego, California where she sampled and analyzed contaminated groundwater from various sites such as service stations and dry cleaners. Following her time with Stantec, Ms. Dobyns joined the marketing team at Regenesis, a firm dedicated to the restoration of natural resources such as soil and groundwater. While at Regenesis, she analyzed and presented the results of in situ chemical oxidation and enhanced bioremediation applications for the treatment of petroleum hydrocarbons and chlorinated solvents in groundwater at hundreds of sites within the United States and United Kingdom. The results of her analyses have been presented at conferences led by Battelle, the Association for Environmental Health and Science (AEHS) and the National Groundwater Association (NGWA). Ms. Dobyns earned her BS In Earth Science from the University of California, San Diego
stephanie@prescienceintl.com
Tel: (415) 264-9780