Eric Hacherl, Ph.D., is COO of Kyttaro Therapeutics, an advanced therapy start-up producing groundbreaking work using genetically modified mesenchymal stem cell lines for therapeutic treatments. He is also Managing Partner at SMART Bio Works, a consultancy established in 2020 to bring commercialization expertise and workforce development solutions to the Life Sciences industry.
Through SMART Bio Works, Eric is serving as co-
lead for the NIIMBL Viral Vector Program Team, focused on developing an open-source
process and analytical platform for gene therapy manufacture. He is also the Industry
Advisory for the Keystone LifeSci Collaborative, a workforce development organization
funded by the EDA Good Jobs Challenge.
Formerly, he was Vice President of Manufacturing at Spark Therapeutics in Philadelphia,
PA. He has served as VP of Operations for Catalent Gene Therapy in Baltimore, MD, and in
several operations and technical roles during his 15 years with Merck & Co. With 25 years’
experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Eric’s subject matter expertise includes process
development, operations, supply chain, and MS&T in large-molecule and vaccines, as well
as cell and gene therapy.
As the Site Learning and Development Director at Merck, Joe leads the L&D organization in supporting the compliance, capabilities, and innovation of vaccine operations.
With over 20 years of experience in the life sciences industry, he has a strong background in biotherapeutic drug development, talent development and organizational leadership.
Joe's mission is to cultivate strategic partnerships in the bio-pharmaceutical ecosystem, inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers, and enable the growth and development of human capital to drive goodwill intangibles for companies. He is passionate about advancing the science and business of health care and creating value for patients, customers, and stakeholders.
John Balchunas is the Workforce Director for the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL) where he is responsible for guiding strategy around workforce and talent development for a federally-funded public private partnership focused on transforming biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
John's career has largely centered around biopharma workforce and economic development. Prior to NIIMBL, John was responsible for business development and industry partnership for the professional development program at North Carolina State University’s Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center (BTEC). Prior to BTEC, John served as the Director of Workforce Development for the North Carolina Biotechnology Center (NCBiotech) for 10 years where he forged an array of partnerships with industry to understand and communicate biopharmaceutical manufacturing workforce needs. John started his career as a technical writer in the biomanufacturing and medical diagnostic industries. John holds a Master of Science in Technical Communication and a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from North Carolina State University and was selected as a Marano Fellow in the Aspen Institute's 2012-2013 Sector Skills Academy.
Kathy Silverstein, a seasoned professional with over a decade of experience in health and biotech, excels in strategic messaging, branding, marketing, and PR. Her unwavering dedication to collaboration and client commitment define her career. With 25 years in television reporting, including as a medical correspondent at WJLA-TV, she boasts numerous accolades, such as a National Emmy and Edward R. Murrow Award.
Kathy's recent achievements include pivotal support to American Gene Technologies, during their Phase I HIV clinical trial and a pending merger through marketing and PR. Her journey began in journalism, dedicated to creating an impact, a purpose she extends to her marketing career. For example, she elevated Lyme disease awareness for Under Our Skin, earning notable national coverage and contributing to an Academy Award shortlist.
Co-founding On The Marc Media with her husband, Marc Silverstein, Kathy merges her passion for journalism, entrepreneurship, and unwavering client service, empowering her to deliver impactful results in the biotech and healthcare sector.
Dr. Roshni Rao is a transformative leader in higher education, serving as the Executive Director of Doctoral and Postdoctoral Career Design and the Director of PHutures at Johns Hopkins University. Specializing in elevating Ph.D. students and postdoctoral fellows, especially those from underrepresented and international backgrounds, Dr. Rao has founded an innovative career hub providing scalable and modern career and professional development opportunities. Among her groundbreaking initiatives are the industry-first data-driven hiring event focused specifically on postdocs and doctoral candidates, featuring over 100 participating organizations. She has also orchestrated an award-winning global career conference graced by celebrity speakers, initiated the inaugural JHU Career Impact Awards centered on community engagement, and established an inclusive research communication competition with a focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Dr. Rao has been an influential speaker at esteemed institutions such as the National Cancer Institute, the University of Mississippi, Texas A&M, and the University of Pennsylvania. Her work has earned her multiple accolades, including the Diversity Recognition Award from JHU, as well as the Supervisor of the Year and Staff Excellence Awards. Prior to joining Johns Hopkins, Dr. Rao served as the Associate Director at the National Institute on Aging, where she received the Kelly Distinguished Service Award for her significant contributions to postdoctoral career development. With a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of South Carolina and a Postgraduate Diploma in Science from the University of Otago in New Zealand, Dr. Rao stands as a thought leader in the Ph.D. career landscape. Her ongoing efforts continue to inspire and pave the way for the next generation of scholars.
A 3x Life Science Start-Up Founder / Bio-Manufacturing Executive with 22+ years of Commercial Life Science experience - including cGLP Laboratory Operations, cGMP Bioprocessing Operations and Global Regulatory Affairs. Dr. Tia is also an alum of Howard University (BSc.), Full Sail University, (M.S.) and University Southern California (MRSc.). Her former employers include the U.S. Federal Government and Big Pharma, i.e. NIH, WRAIR, GSK, Amgen, Baxalta and Lonza. On May 12, 2022 Tia Lyles-Williams was conferred with a Doctorate of Science (D.Sc.) from the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University.
As an African-American Woman and member of the LGBTQ community, Dr. Tia is the 1st to own and lead a biotechnology / biopharmaceutical manufacturing company - 69 years after Dr. Percy Lavon Julian and his company, Julian Laboratories, Inc. (1953) in the historic Oak Park, IL. Dr. Percy Lavon Julian was the 1st African-American to own and lead a biotechnology/biopharmaceutical company. As the founder and CEO of both LucasPye BIO and HelaPlex, Dr. Tia was named a "Unicorn" by Philadelphia Magazines (2020); and most recently, recognized as a 2021 Forbes NEXT Honoree and a member of Inc. Magazine's 2021 Female Founders 100.
Vic Suarez, Colonel (Ret), US Army, MS, PMP, CMRP is the Founder and Principal Growth Partner of Blu Zone Bioscience & Supply Chain Solutions, LLC. Blu Zone Bio assists biotechnology and life science supply chain organizations accelerate growth and expand domestic biomanufacturing through effective public and private partnerships, strategic alliances and business development.
Vic recently retired from over 27 years on active duty as a Biotechnology Advanced Developer and Health Care Supply Chain senior leader. He recently served as the Senior Medical Acquisition Consultant at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command’s Tech Transfer, IP/Patent and Business Development Office at Fort Detrick, MD. He also completed serving as the Commander of the 6th Medical Logistics Management Center, a globally deployed healthcare supply chain, information systems and biomedical maintenance solutions organization.
His unique dual background has enabled him to lead highly complex biotechnology and supply chain programs and organizations. In 2020-2021, he served as the lead Vaccine Program Manager for the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine at Operation Warp Speed/BARDA and has served in the U.S. Army for nearly three decades in world-wide operational, healthcare supply chain, acquisition, and product development roles, including two combat tours in the Middle East as a medical company and battalion commander.
Vic is a former Chief of Staff of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), DOD’s largest biomedical research laboratory headquartered in Silver Spring, MD and was the Joint Product Manager of the Joint Vaccine Acquisition Program (JVAP), a biodefense advanced development vaccine program where he played key roles in the advanced development and delivery of both the FDA licensed Ebola and MPOX vaccines. Vic served as an Army War College Fellow at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at GWU, Washington DC. He is a Certified Materials & Resource Professional (CMRP®) and Project Management Professional (PMP) and holds a BS and MS from UCLA and Central Michigan University, respectively. He also serves as a visiting Senior Fellow at the Council on Strategic Risks (CSR), a DC based national security think tank, Board Advisor to BioBuzz, a Mid-Atlantic based biotech/life sciences media and talent acquisition platform company which seeks to drive bio-innovation forward in multiple U.S. markets, and as a Senior Advisor to Securing America’s Medicines and Supplies (SAMS), a multi-industry coalition of companies with the mission to strengthen the security of the medical supply chain in the USA.
