Have You Met Our Board of Buzz? The Buzz on the BioHealth Capital Region’s New Board

By Cat Thoreson | October 10, 2023

BioBuzz has been connecting the life science workforce since 2009. We’ve built an expansive community in the Mid-Atlantic with a national readership that spans from Massachusettes to Florida, and New York to California. For our next chapter, we’re building a proprietary talent logistics model to help employers source and hire life science talent. Learn more.

Months in the making, BioBuzz announced the establishment of its inaugural Board of Buzz for the BioHealth Capital Region (Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia) last month. This milestone marks a pivotal moment in BioBuzz’s history, enhancing our unwavering commitment to community, connectivity, and delivering an unmatched experience across the career path of life science professionals.

“Community is at the heart of everything that we do at BioBuzz,” said Chris Frew, CEO, BioBuzz. “Since 2009, we’ve been on a mission to better connect life science job seekers and employers so both can thrive in the future of work. The addition of the Board of Buzz emphasizes our commitment to this, being community-first, community-forward, and community-driven.” 

Representing a variety of industry sectors and some of “the best of” BioBuzz, BioBuzz’s Board of Buzz will be responsible for assisting in the strategic direction of BioBuzz within their respective ecosystem, directly impacting our community and creating opportunities for our Ambassadors of Buzz and larger BioBuzz community. 

We’ll look to formalize our Board for both Greater Philadelphia (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware) and Research Triangle Park (North Carolina) in 2024. Interested? Apply to our Ambassador of Buzz program as an easy starting point!

Areas of Focus for the Board of Buzz

These year-long, appointed positions, include nine members with designated roles based on backgrounds within the following areas of interest. 

Program + Events

Assist the BioBuzz team with large-scale event and programming ideation. Help to identify current gaps in the ecosystem, topics of interest, and better experiences and connection points.  

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Bee-longing

Help to foster a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and bee-longing within BioBuzz’s community the larger ecosystem. Identify issues, tackle challenges, and amplify the work being done. Veterans, women, ethnic minorities… 

Buzzin’ Brood

Help us activate and impact the next generation of BioBuzz’ers within academia and industry. BioBuzz’s young professionals group, the Buzzin’ Brood. 

The XYZ

Amplify the voices of bioentrepreneurs. Showcase early-stage start-ups, facilitate features for The XYZ column, explore innovative topics targeting entrepreneurial interest…

So, without further adieu, BioBuzz’s inaugural Board of Buzz.

Inaugural BioHealth Capital Region Board of Buzz

We are thrilled to launch our Board of Buzz with a stacked roster of BioBuzz-ers. So, without further adieu, BioBuzz’s inaugural Board of Buzz.

Amy Adelman House

Head of Portfolio Strategy, Beacon Therapeutics

BioHealth Capital Region Board of Buzz | Chair

Amy has over 20 years of experience in health care and the life sciences in roles across industry, academia and managment consulting. Currently, she is Head of Portfolio Strategy at Beacon Therapeutics, an ophthalmic gene therapy company founded in 2023. Previously, she was Chief of Staff to the Chief Medical Officer at Gyroscope Therapeutics, a clinical-stage gene therapy company acquired by Novartis in 2022, where she also served as the Gyroscope Integration and Transition Lead post-acquisition.

Amy also has experience in academia, where she developed and managed strategic collaborations for faculty with industry partners and investors at Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures. In addition, she spent several years in management consulting, working with healthcare organizations and life sciences companies at all stages of development. Amy leverages her broad experience to bridge communication between research, the clinic and commercial. She is a collaborative team builder, leader, and player committed to mentoring team members at all levels, improving ways of working and creating a positive work culture. Amy has an MBA from Duke University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.

Arielle Garcia

Graduate Student – Bioinformatics, Johns Hopkins University Advanced Academic Programs

BioHealth Capital Region Board of Buzz – The XYZ Lead

Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Arielle Garcia is a United States Air Force veteran and current student at Johns Hopkins University pursuing a Master of Science in Bioinformatics.

Arielle moved to Baltimore to participate as a Nucleate Activator 2023 Cohort with the venture team 4D Genomics. The Activator program is designed to equip the next generation of bioentrepreneurs with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to take their ideas from lab-to-market. 4D Genomics did exceptionally well, taking home two of the five awards in the DEI and High Impact categories.

Although the Activator program is over, Arielle knew she wanted to continue being in the entrepreneurial space. The XYZ provides a platform to highlight bioentrepreneurs that are impacting the community, both locally and globally. She is looking forward to amplifying the voices of innovators and displaying the diversity of life science start-ups in the BioHealth Capital Region.

“Arielle has consistently proven to be one of my most resilient and fortuitous friends,” said Gustavo Rodriguez. “Regardless of the situation, the outcome, or the future outlook, she has always demonstrated unwavering resilience and an infectious attitude that inspires others. Her friendly approach and team-oriented mindset were instrumental in helping both my colleagues and me persevere through the grueling nine months of one of the military’s most challenging training schools.”

He furthered the sentiment in saying, “Moreover, Arielle serves as an inspiration to those of us who aspire to a life beyond the military, as she is undoubtedly carving out a path for herself as a change-maker and a catalyst for success. Arielle embodies leadership, motivation, and, above all, the qualities of a great friend.”

Cassandra Pollard

Quality Control Associate II, Charles River Laboratories

BioHealth Capital Region Board of Buzz | Buzzin’ Brood Co-Lead

Cassandra, an alumna of the UMBC Translational Life Science Technologies program, possesses an enduring fascination with biotechnology and its remarkable strides over the years. 

This unwavering passion has not only shaped her career but also fortified her professional objectives. Within the platform of BioBuzz, Cassandra endeavors to extend the wealth of knowledge and opportunities inherent to the field of biotechnology to aspiring students, while concurrently providing invaluable support to aid them in their academic and career pursuits.

Desmond Grimes

Business Development and Account Manager, InfoPathways

BioHealth Capital Region Board of Buzz | Buzzin’ Brood Co-Lead

Based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Prior to joining InfoPathways, he accumulated experience working with several prominent life science organizations, including Bioqual and Pharmaron.

Grimes is a Hood College graduate with a degree in Sociology and Business Administration. During his college years, he not only excelled academically but also contributed as a member of the Hood College NCAA Baseball team and the orientation team.

A key passion for Desmond Grimes lies in facilitating the career growth of emerging talent. With a background in talent acquisition, he possesses a deep understanding of the challenges faced by entry-level professionals and recent graduates in finding their career paths. His primary goal is to empower and guide emerging talents in their quest to discover their true passions within the workforce.

Jason Corbiere

Business Development Manager, Astrea Bioseperations

BioHealth Capital Region Board of Buzz | Programs & Events Co-Lead

After getting his degree in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from Rutgers University, Jason worked in research labs for a few years, first investigating crystallization properties of E. Coli RNA Polymerase and then the genetic mechanisms of C. Elegans neuronal cell death with the intention to continue down the path towards academia.

When the 2008 Financial Crisis hit, he was unable to find any research labs in his area hiring, so took a ‘short-term’ job in business development in an unrelated field.

Something completely unexpected happened: Jason discovered loved his new career and the people-centricity of it, learning details about customer processes, and the compelling nature of finding solutions to real-world problems. He quickly couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

Six months ago Jason joined Astrea Bioseparations as a member of their commercial team, helping introduce next-generation adsorbents, columns, and column-packing services to Downstream Processing Scientists throughout the bioprocessing industry.

“Jason has exactly what it takes to make a project come to fruition,” said Trace Yates, PhD, Head of Laboratories – North America, Mosaic Company. “His dedication to detail, to understanding wants and needs is impeccable.” 

Karen Haslbeck, SPHR

President, HRx Consulting, LLC

BioHealth Capital Region Board of Buzz | The XYZ Co-Lead

Karen Haslbeck brings over 20 years of experience to the Board, including 15 years in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries a highly experienced and accomplished Human Resources leader.

She has been instrumental in building commercial, corporate, and scientific teams at all levels implementing successful Organizational Development initiatives to build and retain both culture and people.

Karen is an accomplished HR leader who has directed organizational planning and development through strategic initiatives and programs. She has managed talent selection practices, process improvements, staff development, and employee relations in all stages of growth. She is an innovator, creating dynamic policies, programs, and initiatives to optimize employee morale and boost retention and satisfaction while providing ongoing advisement and feedback to senior management teams.

Karen establishes solid and trusting partnerships through exceptional relationship-building skills, utilizing positive energy and interpersonal abilities to secure employee and management trust making her an ideal resource for businesses looking to optimize their HR function and build a strong, successful team.

“Karen is one of the best HR professionals that I have worked with in the Biotech industry,” said Joel Biles, former Senior Director Facilities/Engineering. Paragon Bioservices. “Her knowledge, work ethic, and willingness to aid my group and myself was instrumental in the success we had at Paragon.”

Laura Frew

Senior Recruiter, Workforce Genetics

BioHealth Capital Region Board of Buzz | Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Bee-longing Lead

Laura is a dedicated professional with a strong commitment to aiding others in their personal and professional journeys. Armed with a dual Master’s degree in Clinical and Counseling Psychology and years of experience as a therapist, Laura’s career has been defined by her unyielding desire to make a positive impact. However, her path took an unexpected turn when she transitioned from the world of therapy to the realm of business, and she has never looked back.

Having earned her Bachelor’s and dual Master’s degrees in psychology, Laura’s educational background laid a strong foundation for her future endeavors. She initially ventured into the field of mental health, providing therapy and support to those in need. Her innate passion for helping people compelled her to excel in this role, and her dedication garnered respect within the industry.

Laura’s professional journey took a new direction when she decided to explore the world of insurance sales, driven by her aspiration to provide families with financial security. She poured her heart into this mission, striving to make a difference in people’s lives during times of vulnerability. However, the demanding hours and the need for a better work-life balance led Laura to reassess her career path.

It was during this juncture that Laura’s brother-in-law suggested she consider a career in recruiting. Embracing this opportunity, she embarked on a new adventure that would allow her to combine her empathetic nature, people skills, and keen understanding of human behavior. 4+ years into her role at Workforce Genetics, Laura has found her niche in the world of remote recruiting, where she can simultaneously nurture her family life and passion for helping individuals and businesses thrive.

Laura specializes in roles that drive innovation and progress within the biotech and medtech industries, focusing on Process Development/Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Business Development, and R&D. Her approach to recruiting goes beyond the conventional, as she views candidates as more than their resumes. Laura believes in forming genuine connections and diving deep into understanding each candidate’s motivations, aspirations, and unique qualities. One of Laura’s greatest sources of joy is witnessing candidates find their dream positions and witnessing the positive impact her work has on their lives. With a steadfast commitment to building lasting relationships, she prides herself on aligning candidates with companies whose values and missions resonate with their own.

Beyond her professional life, Laura’s passions extend to sports and entertainment. She was once an avid participant in various sports and recreational activities, but an unfortunate knee injury led her to discover new hobbies like low-impact workouts, biking with her children, and spending quality time with her family. A self-proclaimed enthusiast of the Harry Potter and Marvel universes, Laura finds solace in immersing herself in these fictional realms whenever the opportunity arises.

While Laura’s journey has taken her through diverse roles and experiences, her core values of compassion, connection, and dedication remain steadfast. Her ability to bridge the gap between psychology, business, and recruiting showcases her versatility and passion for fostering meaningful relationships in all aspects of her life.

Lorraine Dell’Acqua

Clinical Oncology Research Specialist, University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center

BioHealth Capital Region Board of Buzz | Buzzin’ Brood Lead

Lorraine is a native of Washington, DC with extensive global travel experience. She is a Clinical Oncology Research Specialist at the University of Maryland Baltimore School of Medicine, directly engaging with patients and their families for screening, enrolment, and coordination of their participation and treatment in oncology clinical trials. A graduate from the University of Maryland Baltimore County with a B.S. in Psychology, she possesses over 8 years of research experience across wet labs, animal labs, and clinical and psychological research involving human subjects.

She is interested in pursuing a combined MBA/PhD program to advance her expertise in neuroscience while integrating a business perspective for entrepreneurial pursuits. Lorraine is actively involved in volunteering with professional Latino organizations, aiming to enhance opportunities for Latinos across all sectors, particularly in underrepresented areas like the sciences. She is eager to bring this enthusiasm to BioBuzz, facilitating connections and opportunities for undergraduates, graduate students, young professionals, and individuals of all ages in the biotech and medtech fields.

Her personal interests include hiking, biking, rock climbing, DIY projects, and running a private events mixology company.

“Lorraine is an incredible addition to the Board and team,” said Cat Thoreson, Director of Marketing, BioBuzz. “Lorraine has been a consistent energizer within the BioBuzz community and her commitment to connecting within and outside of BioBuzz will make both immediate and long-term impact within her roles as Buzzin’ Brood Lead.”

Nick Droste

Program Manager for Human Performance, Emergent BioSolutions 

BioHealth Capital Region Board of Buzz | Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Bee-longing Lead

Staff Sergeant (Retired) Nick Droste served over 20 years in the U.S. Army as a language analyst and strategic advisor. Throughout his military career, Nick developed a passion for workforce optimization and engagement by building cross-functional teams of people with incredibly diverse backgrounds. Nick deployed in support of both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and received the Combat Action Badge and Bronze Star among other awards. Nick, his wife Rukiya, and their four daughters fell in love with Maryland while stationed at Fort Meade and chose the Annapolis area as their new home so that Nick could fly his “Go Army, Beat Navy” flag right next to the Naval Academy.

After retiring, Nick used the Post 9/11 GI Bill to complete his Master’s degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology at the University of Baltimore. At the same time, he discovered the Biotechnology Industry after connecting with a fellow veteran at a job fair. That connection led Nick to Emergent Biosolutions, where he currently works as a Program Manager for Human Performance on the Operational Excellence Team. Since his transition, Nick has been heavily involved in the creation of employee resource groups at Emergent, as well as veteran initiatives including mentorship to transitioning servicemembers and development of a DoD SkillBridge program tailored to help veterans explore this incredible industry. Nick is also passionate about building secondary education pathways to the industry and removing barriers to STEM education for all.

“Nick is the definition of “all in.” He manages to seamlessly weave together his military background in a way that benefits the hats he wears personally and professionally,” said Katie Kilby, Founder & Chief Visionary, Reveille Grounds. “While we’re still a little unsure how he makes time for all the good he puts out into the world, we’re confident that he’ll continue to bring everything he has to BioBuzz… and then some! He leads with humility, grace, dedication, and determination, and has a firm grasp on how to ensure social impact AND business goals for our stakeholders can be met creatively and effectively. Nick’s role on your Board and ours will make us all better!”

Nick Sunseri

Program Manager, Operational Excellence, Emergent BioSolutions 

BioHealth Capital Region Board of Buzz | Programs & Events Co-Lead

Nick is an experienced professional with a love of helping people and having fun while doing it. He has a B.S. from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Safety Sciences and an M.B.A. from The University of Maryland. 

Originally from Pittsburgh, he’s called Baltimore his home for the last 1.5 years (but will always support his black and gold teams).  With a background in occupational safety, he spent the first 10+ years of his career working in a variety of different industries protecting the health and safety of each company’s employees.  He states that making the transition into Continuous Improvement has been a great experience as he continues to help people with process improvement and human error reduction efforts but now with a larger scope in addition to safety. 

Nick is passionate about people, always enjoying meeting new connections.   He has a love for coaching, teaching, working with groups and bringing his energy to whatever is happening.  Nick is looking forward to helping plan great events and continuing to meet the best and the brightest across the BioHealth Capital Region. 

When not working, volunteering, or supporting an awesome organization like BioBuzz, you can find him running, exploring new breweries, or finding new (and fun) events across the city. 

“As a ‘People First’ leader, Nick has the passion and drive to help others succeed in everything they do,” said David Ritchey, Director, Operational Excellence, Emergent. “From training & mentorship to project execution, Operational Excellence is part of his everyday life. Nick’s appointment to the board brings a diverse set of skills that surely will further drive the BioBuzz mission to be more connected. ‘Connecting, Educating, and Empowering’ are core traits that drive innovation in biotech and life sciences and having Nick part of a team that lives those traits every day will only drive positive results for Emergent but the broader biotech community.”

Samantha Petros

Open to Work – B.S in Translational Life Sciences (Applied Biotechnology) 

BioHealth Capital Region Board of Buzz | Buzzin’ Brood Co-Lead

Samantha has a B.S. in Translational Life Sciences (Applied Biotechnology) from UMBC. I worked at Sanaria for nearly 3 years, progressing from a Manufacturing Technician to a Vaccine Extraction Specialist. I then took a summer internship at Johns Hopkins University handling HIV studies and data analysis as a Research Technologist.

Her current aspiration is to contribute to impactful research in a bench lab role. I am excited to make a significant contribution to meaningful scientific endeavors!

“BioBuzz made an amazing choice in appointing Samantha to the Board of Buzz,” said Annica Wayman, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Shady Grove Affairs, UMBC at the Universities at Shady Grove. “I absolutely enjoyed having her as a student in my program and seeing her grow. She is incredibly smart, insightful, hardworking, and a great communicator. Coupling that with her academic and biotech work experiences, I know that she will bring together the biotech community in impactful ways while encouraging the future biotech workforce.” 

Sarah Boynton

Owner, Biopharma Staffing and Consulting Solutions, LLC

BioHealth Capital Region Board of Buzz | Talent Lead

Sarah has spent over 13 years in the manufacturing world of biologics and cell and gene therapies. As a seasoned operator for the first half of her career, Sarah has extensive experience in downstream processing, deviation management, training, and operational excellence, with a particular focus on human performance/error prevention. Prior to becoming an independent consultant, Sarah worked for Catalent Pharma Solutions, KBI Biopharma, AstraZeneca, MedImmune, and GlaxoSmithKline.

Sarah is passionate about human error prevention, an important concept gaining a foothold in the manufacturing industry. Ensuring operations are run by confident, well-trained individuals is integral for supplying quality products to patients in need. She hopes to support the BioBuzz network by bringing an innovative approach to educating the future workforce about GxP and Human Performance fundamentals.

“Sarah is a champion of GxP concepts and behaviors, and has a strong understanding of human error prevention,” says Kaosochi Ezigboh, Director of Operational Excellence at Pii.

Outside of work, Sarah is a mom to three small children, who help her stay on her toes and always remain curious and creative.