For Immediate Release: March 19, 2024

Executives from Colorado State University, KBI Biopharma, Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies, and STAQ Pharma Join Board

Denver – Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA), which creates co-opportunity for Colorado’s life sciences community through its work to champion a collaborative life sciences ecosystem and advocate for a supportive business climate, announces the appointment of new officers and members to its board of directors. Ethan Mann, Ph.D., M.B.A., who serves as CEO of OrganiShield and CEO of Validus Cellular Therapeutics will serve as Board of Directors Chair. Byron Hewett, Interim CEO, General Inception, will act as CBSA Board of Directors Vice Chair.

Scientist-entrepreneur Ethan Mann is a fractional executive, consultant, and board member. He will lead Colorado BioScience Association’s Board of Directors as the new chair. He is the CEO of OrganiShield and also serves as CEO of Validus Cellular Therapeutics, a company he co-founded. He led the Colorado BioScience Institute Board of Directors, which cultivates and diversifies the state’s life sciences workforce, from classroom, to campus, to career, for two years. The startup executive previously worked in leadership roles at Sharklet Technologies and manages a partnership consulting firm called Blacktip Ventures.

Colorado life sciences executive Byron Hewett, the new CBSA Board of Directors Vice Chair, is a life sciences board member, advisor, and mentor who serves as Interim CEO at General Inception. He has led several high-growth biotech and MedTech companies, including C-level roles at Colorado companies including LightDeck Diagnostics, Brava Diagnostics, which he cofounded, and SomaLogic.  

“We congratulate Ethan Mann on his appointment as CBSA’s new board chair. He’s a startup veteran who is a respected and deeply engaged leader and changemaker in our life sciences community,” said Elyse Blazevich, CBSA President & CEO. “It’s an honor to welcome Byron Hewett as vice chair, who brings a wealth of experience from some of Colorado’s best known life sciences companies. We also thank Kiki Traylor, our outgoing board chair, who led our organization through a period of transformational change, which included the creation of a five-year strategic plan.”

Additionally, five leaders from across Colorado’s life sciences community, Tony Fraij, Chief Operating Officer, KBI Biopharma; Raymond Gonzales, President, Metro Denver EDC and Executive Vice President, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce; Dalip Sethi, Ph.D., M.B.A., M.Sc., Commercial Leader, Cell Therapy Technologies, Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies; Meg Suter, Ph.D. Assistant Vice President for Research; and Colorado State University and Lou Thao, Vice President of Operations, STAQ Pharma, joined the board as new members at CBSA’s annual board retreat earlier this month.

“I’m pleased to welcome our new CBSA Board of Directors members. Tony, Ray, Dalip, Meg, and Lou represent the life sciences companies, economic development groups, and academic and research institutions that are driving the state’s next wave of life sciences growth,” said Ethan Mann, CBSA Board of Directors Chair. “Working together, we will continue our drive to become a top five hub for life sciences in the United States.”

The Colorado BioScience Association Board of Directors represent the breadth of the state’s health innovation ecosystem. They are C-level leaders at publicly traded companies, serial entrepreneurs who have taken promising concepts all the way to patient bedsides, renowned scientists, academic leaders, recognized experts in finance, law and operations, respected investors, and forward-thinking leaders developing the critical infrastructure our ecosystem needs. The board provided critical early support and guidance for this month’s launch of Colorado Hub for Health Impact, a new economic development campaign to attract new life sciences companies, talent, and investors to the state.

Thirty board members representing medical device and diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, ag bio and animal health, digital health, academic and research institutions, and service providers make up the CBSA board. Board members work in partnership with CBSA staff to support the growth of the state’s life sciences ecosystem. Names and photos of the full board of directors are available on the CBSA website.   

About Colorado BioScience Association

Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) creates co-opportunity for the Colorado life sciences community. CBSA champions a collaborative life sciences ecosystem and advocates for a supportive business climate. From concept to commercialization, member companies and organizations drive global health innovations, products and services that improve and save lives. The association leads Capital and Growth, Education and Networking, Policy and Advocacy, and Workforce Cultivation to make its members stronger, together. Learn more: cobioscience.com

About Colorado Hub for Health Impact

Smart, inclusive, forward-thinking, and highly educated people lead life sciences innovation in Colorado, the Hub for Health Impact. Here, in the center of the United States, the country’s top talent transforms every aspect of health and care. Our community is right-sized for high-growth organizations, with excellent infrastructure, lab and office space, outstanding academic and research institutions, and successful companies at all stages of commercialization. More than 20 life sciences organizations, economic development groups, local governments, developers, and builders joined together in 2024, launching the national economic development campaign to attract high-growth health innovation companies to Colorado. More: coloradohealthimpact.com. 

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Media Contact

Sheliah Reynolds
Primavera Group for Colorado BioScience Association
(720) 289-4739
sheliah@theprimaveragroup.com