RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Dec. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Two prominent
economic development executives will begin work Jan. 3, 2006, as directors of
the North Carolina Biotechnology Center's new Eastern and Southeastern
regional offices.
John Chaffee, a Pitt County economic development executive with more than
25 years of experience, will direct the Eastern Office in Greenville.
Randall Johnson, who served as an economic development professional and
biotechnology liaison for the City of Wilmington, will direct the Southeastern
Office in Wilmington.
"People in Eastern North Carolina are very fortunate to have such astute,
capable and respected economic developers working on their behalf," said
Leslie Alexandre, president and CEO of the Biotechnology Center. "John and
Randall will be effective catalysts for biotechnology development because they
understand this complex industry and its many requirements."
Chaffee and Johnson will work with companies, schools and institutions to
strengthen biotechnology capabilities, identify opportunities, create regional
advisory committees, leverage resources and forge partnerships. They will also
serve as their regions' direct conduit to the Biotechnology Center's programs
and other resources across the state.
Chaffee, 53, began his career with the Sampson County Planning and
Development Commission in 1977. He then worked for the Henderson-Vance County
Planning and Development Commission before heading the Pitt County Development
Commission in 1983. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees in
economic geography, with a specialization in industrial location and regional
economics, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
"I truly believe the eastern region can benefit dramatically from nearly
every aspect of biotechnology," Chaffee said.
Johnson, 34, began his career as a research technician at Wake Forest
University's Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, then consulted for
individual businesses before joining the City of Wilmington's Economic
Development Division. Johnson received a bachelor's degree in psychology and
an MBA degree from Wake Forest University's Babcock Graduate School of
Management.
"North Carolina's biotechnology efforts offer great potential for using
the Southeastern region's natural assets in agriculture, marine life and
livestock to benefit all residents," said Johnson, who served on a
Biotechnology Center task force to open the regional office in Wilmington.
The Eastern and Southeastern offices follow two other regional offices
established by the Biotechnology Center in the last two years: the Piedmont
Triad Office in Winston-Salem and the Western Office in Asheville. A fifth
office is planned for 2006 to serve Greater Charlotte.
The regional offices, each consisting of a director and an assistant, are
central to the Biotechnology Center's Project to Strengthen Biotechnology
Across North Carolina, aimed at boosting biotechnology resources,
opportunities and job creation in regions statewide.
Statewide development of biotechnology is a key recommendation of New Jobs
Across North Carolina: A Strategic Plan for Growing the Economy Statewide
through Biotechnology, the State's long-term blueprint for growing the
industry.
The Biotechnology Center is a private, non-profit corporation supported by
the N.C. General Assembly. Its mission is to provide long-term economic and
societal benefits to North Carolina by supporting biotechnology research,
business and education statewide.
North Carolina is the nation's No. 3 state for biotechnology, based on
number of companies, according to Ernst & Young's 2005 report on the industry.
Visit the Biotechnology Center's Web site at http://www.ncbiotech.org.
SOURCE North Carolina Biotechnology Center
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.ncbiotech.org
CONTACT:
Barry Teater, director of corporate
communications, or W. Steven Burke, senior vice president of
corporate affairs of North Carolina Biotechnology Center,
+1-919-541-9366
NOTE TO EDITORS: Color photos of John Chaffee and Randall Johnson
are available for downloading at:
http://www.ncbiotech.org/images/chaffeeprint.jpg and
http://www.ncbiotech.org/images/johnsonprint.jpg.
|
