Colorado BioScience Association Seeks Region’s Top Innovators for Venture Showcase Competition at 2010 BioWest Conference & Expo

Organizers of the annual BioWest Conference & Expo are again looking for the best bioscience start-ups in the region as candidates for this year's $7,500 Dorsey & Whitney Venture Showcase Award. The announcement is made by Holli Baumunk, President & CEO of the Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) who says, "four companies will be chosen to present at the showcase on Wednesday, September 29, and will be judged by a panel of venture capitalists. Deadline for entry is Friday, August 20."

“The BioWest Venture Showcase Competition allows early-stage companies to present their discoveries and research to venture capitalists and nearly 700 attendees during this regional conference,” Baumunk explains. “Many of the past presenters have gained national and international exposure from participating in this event, and we are excited to include the competition in the conference again this year.”

Link to the Business Wire posting

July 30 Denver Business Journal Newsmakers: Sheila Balzer CSCPA Board Appointment

"ACCOUNTING The Colorado Society of CPAs appointed Sheila Balzer of Holben Hay Balzer to a two-year term on its board of directors."

Link to the PR Newswire release

Link to the PR Web newswire

Link to Sheila Balzer's "Auditing Expert" Profile

CBSA Video Recap Now Posted: 7/28 CEO BioBreakfast With Drs Larry Gold and Bill Freytag, plus Mr. Patrick Mahaffy

Drs. Bill Freytag and Larry Gold, plus Mr. Patrick Mahaffy (L-R) explained what propelled them to grow successful bioscience companies and become leaders of the industry at the CBSA's July BioBreakfast event. Starting any business requires determination, self-discipline, persistence, a high tolerance for risk and a willingness to work very long hours. Starting a bioscience company with the goal of gaining FDA approval for a new drug or medical device requires incredible perseverance and an awful lot of money.

Thank you to the Colorado Science + Technology Park at Fitzsimons, Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson and OSI Pharmaceuticals for sponsoring! Video recaps are now available at the CBSA YouTube page: http://www.youtube.com/COBioscience

Dr. Bill Freytag serves as a member of the board of directors for four health care companies: ARCA biopharma, Inc.; GlobeImmune, Inc.; ProFoldRx, Inc., and BiOptix Inc. Dr. Freytag was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aspreva Pharmaceuticals until its merger with Galenica AG. Prior to Aspreva, Dr. Freytag was President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Myogen, Inc. until it was acquired by Gilead.



"It's All About Good Science" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z93Hs9vjRFA

"Triaging A New Idea" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shPyVed8jU0

"On Mistakes" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4d-SBbrEA78

"On Regrets" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgPXB2WC8og

"Best Piece Of Advice" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scY7MLQFmdo

Dr. Larry Gold is the founder, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of SomaLogic. Prior to SomaLogic, he founded NeXagen, Inc., which later became NeXstar Pharmaceuticals, Inc.



"Focusing On Early Detection" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppI4HkG2dwU

"On Genomics" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nHUdZjumIU

"Don't Fall In Love With Your Idea" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gAttLxvDf4

"On Best Advice From A Venture Capitalist" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7bbwMvflwM

"On Teamwork" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa-SQXu4mio

Mr. Patrick Mahaffy co-founded Clovis Oncology and is its President and Chief Executive Officer. Previously, he served in the same role at Pharmion Corporation, which he founded in 2000. Prior to that, Mr. Mahaffy wasPresident and Chief Executive Officer of NeXagen, Inc. and its successor, NeXstar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Today he is also a member of the boards of directors of Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc. and Flexion Therapeutics, Inc.



"This Is Not An Industry For Shortcuts" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTx2B5dLiUs

"Shortcut Horror Story" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxm_y1U1O5U

"It's A Game of Incremental Steps" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgrL3kf2tns

"More On Idea Triage" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kv8ptIDIxo

"My Biggest Struggle" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wqX4tSG-7Y

"What Keeps Me Motivated" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0Zq56ppsOI

"I Don't Live In A Regret World" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWW1uzxSJYw

"On Current Funding Situation" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TQqAsiiQOE

Clean Over Green: A Podcast from Planet-Profit Report Recapping 7/29 CCIA Event

Mike Cote, editor of Planet-Profit Report and ColoradoBiz, talks with Dr. Joseph Stanislaw, independent senior adviser on energy and sustainability for Deloitte. Dr. Stanislaw (pictured at left) was recently in Denver to present a talk to the Colorado Cleantech Industry Association on 'Clean over Green,' and the growing global approach to energy, sustainability and a low-carbon future.

Link to the podcast interview

Link to the pdf "Clean Over Green Striking a New Energy Balance as We Build a Bridge to a Low-Carbon Future"

We hope to offer video of Dr. Stanislaw's presentation at the CCIA You Tube Channel a future date. Stay tuned for more information.

CCIA's vision to take the group regional

ColoradoBiz/Planet-Profit Report Editor Mike Cote talks with Chris Shapard, executive director of the Colorado Cleantech Industry Association, about plans to take the group regional.



Link to the ColoradoBiz/Planet-Profit Report site

This week: CBSA's popular BioBreakfast series features three CEO entrepreneurs

Each year the CBSA dedicates one BioBreakfast to spotlighting an article within the annual Bioscience Colorado Magazine. This year's program is one you can't afford to miss. Listen as Dr. Larry Gold, Dr. Bill Freytag and Patrick Mahaffy explain what propelled them to grow successful bioscience companies and become leaders of the industry.

Starting any business requires determination, self-discipline, persistence, a high tolerance for risk and a willingness to work very long hours. Starting a bioscience company with the goal of gaining FDA approval for a new drug or medical device requires incredible perseverance and an awful lot of money. Behind every Colorado bioscience company are men and women who have embraced these challenges and took them on with a zeal that not everyone possesses.

Wednesday, Jul 28, 2010 7:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Anschutz Medical Campus - Research Complex 2 - 12700 East 19th Avenue - TriVisible Room, Second Floor, P15-2100 - Aurora, CO 80045

CBSA members are free: non-yet members are $50 per registrant.

Thank you to the Colorado Science + Technology Park at Fitzsimons, Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson and OSI Pharmaceuticals for sponsoring this event!

Link to register

Denver Business Journal: "PR pros can help executives enter networking circles"

PRSA Colorado President Elisabeth Monaghan contributed another bylined article to the Denver Business Journal today: "PR pros can help executives enter networking circles." In the article, Elisabeth kindly quoted me (Maggie Holben, author of this news feed blog):

"While some executives say they lack the time to network, Maggie Holben, owner of Absolutely Public Relations in Lakewood, says they still can establish professional contacts and enhance their company’s community exposure.

'Good networkers are active in community organizations,' she said. 'They aggressively pursue and serve on committees and hold board positions, including officer stints — even if those organizations center on their children’s school or extracurricular activities. If an executive doesn’t have the time to volunteer, he can readily share his company’s management and accounting talents, and he views this as an opportunity, not a chore.'

Holben also recommends that executives encourage others in their organizations to volunteer their time and talents, sit on nonprofit boards or join professional organizations.

'It is much easier for a public relations professional to nominate an executive for an award or promote a company when the organization invites and is recognized for creating a culture of community involvement,' she said."

Read more at: http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2010/05/03/smallb4.html