Oklahoma native brings experience in law, business, biotech development
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., July 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Cheryl S. McMurry,
an executive with extensive experience in biotechnology business development,
commercialization and recruitment, has been hired as director of the Western
Office of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, effective Aug. 1.
"I am both pleased and proud to join the Biotechnology Center team,"
McMurry said. "The Biotechnology Center has an international reputation for
excellence, effectiveness and ethics, and I look forward to continuing its
work in Western North Carolina."
McMurry succeeds Dr. Charles Moreland, who is retiring.
"Western North Carolina is just beginning to understand its potential for
building a unique and innovative natural biotech industry," said Jack Cecil,
president of Biltmore Farms of Asheville and chairman of the Advisory
Committee for Biotechnology in Western North Carolina. "Cheryl McMurry brings
vision, deep experience and commitment to the region. We are fortunate that
she has taken up the challenge of leading this highly creative venture."
George Briggs, executive director of the North Carolina Arboretum in
Asheville and vice chairman of the Advisory Committee, said, "The hiring of
Cheryl McMurry marks an important milestone of sustainability in building
Western North Carolina's natural biotech industry. Like the industry itself,
Cheryl possesses enormous innovative energy. It's a great match. We are
fortunate as a region and state to have recruited her leadership."
McMurry will work with companies, schools and institutions throughout
Western North Carolina to both identify and strengthen their capabilities for
biotechnology development.
"She will implement a key premise of the North Carolina Biotechnology
Center," said W. Steven Burke, senior vice president of corporate affairs at
the Biotechnology Center. "Gaining eventual jobs and economic return from
biotechnology in a region requires a foundation of different partners, long-
term commitment, and practical strategies."
McMurry will administer the Advisory Committee for Biotechnology in
Western North Carolina, which has determined that native plants and
biotechnology are a significant strength and opportunity for the region. She
also will serve as direct conduit for Western North Carolina to the funding
programs and other resources of the Biotechnology Center.
The Western Office where McMurry will work is located on the Enka campus
of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, a sponsor of the office
along with Advantage West and the Appalachian Regional Commission.
Prior to joining the Biotechnology Center, McMurry was manager of the N.C.
Community College System's BioNetwork BioBusiness Center at A-B Tech. Before
her move to Asheville, she spent three years as senior vice president of
Emergent Technologies Inc., a venture capital company headquartered in Austin,
Texas, and was president of Emergent Technologies, Oklahoma, a partnership
fund with investments in five Oklahoma biotechnology companies.
McMurry began her career practicing law in Columbia, S.C., and was
subsequently appointed to positions in the U.S. Department of Transportation
as the director of public affairs and the chief counsel of the Federal Highway
Administration. She began her involvement in the life sciences in New Jersey
as special counsel to the chairman of MetPath Inc., an international clinical
testing laboratory, and as vice president and counsel to Sci/Med, an early
technology commercialization company.
Later, as director of technology development and marketing for the Greater
Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, she was instrumental in the creation of the
Oklahoma Technology Commercialization Center, a state-funded, privately run
enterprise that assisted more than 60 companies and put together funding of
over $200 million.
A native of Ardmore, Okla., McMurry has a bachelor's degree in education
from Auburn University, a master's degree in education from Winthrop College,
and a master's degree in public administration and a law degree from the
University of South Carolina.
The Biotechnology Center is a private, non-profit corporation supported by
the General Assembly. Its mission is to provide long-term economic and
societal benefits to North Carolina by supporting biotechnology research,
business and education statewide.
Visit the Center's web site at http://www.ncbiotech.org.
SOURCE North Carolina Biotechnology Center
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Related links:
http://www.ncbiotech.org
CONTACT:
Barry Teater, director of corporate
communications of North Carolina Biotechnology Center,
+1-919-541-9366
NOTE TO EDITORS: The unconventional spelling of Cheryl McMurry's
last name is correct as stated. Also, a color photo of McMurry is
available from the Biotechnology Center as a .jpg file and can be
downloaded at: http://www.ncbiotech.org/images/mcmurryprint.jpg.
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