First Class of Boettcher Investigators Announced At Governor's Residence Ceremonies Today

The 2010 (Inaugural) Class of Boettcher Investigators in the Webb-Waring Biomedical Research Program includes the following:

* Shaodong Dai, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Immunology, National Jewish Health, Chronic Beryllium Lung Disease

* Robin Dowell, D.Sc., Assistant Professor of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado at Boulder, Translational Bioinformatics Involving Drug Efficacy and Genetics

* Gidon Felsen, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado – Anschutz Medical Campus, Parkinson’s Disease

* Paul Jedlicka, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Pathology, University of Colorado – Anschutz Medical Campus, Ewing Sarcoma, a Common Cancer of the Bone and Soft Tissue Affecting Children

* Keith Neeves, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Role of Blood Flow in the Formation of Blood Clots

* Melissa Reynolds, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Nitric-Oxide Releasing Materials for Cardiovascular Medical Devices

Individual grant amounts for these research projects range from $200,000 to $300,000. The grant amounts allocated varied based on funding available to the institution and size of project. Per program guidelines, the minimum budget was required to be $200,000.

“We’d announced the creation of the Program in 2008, as the result of an innovative agreement among the Boettcher Foundation, Webb-Waring Foundation for Biomedical Research and the University of Colorado,” Tim Schultz, Boettcher Foundation President and Executive Director, explains. “In the interim, we’ve worked long and hard with our State’s Universities, public officials, the Governor’s Office, and the bioscience industry in Colorado to understand the strategies in place and to identify the best opportunity for investment by the Foundation of more than $1 million each year into efforts to increase our competitiveness in biomedical science.”

Link to the Business Wire Release

The First Class of Boettcher Investigators will be announced today

Today is the big day - Boettcher Foundation is launching its Webb-Waring Biomedical Research Awards and the first class of six "Boettcher Investigators." Tim Schultz, President and Executive Director of the Boettcher Foundation, interviewed on 9News this morning with Gregg Moss about the new, innovative biomedical research program for the nation and Colorado.

Today's historic launch will be at the Governor's Residence (formerly the Boettcher family home)in Denver.

There are six Boettcher Investigators in the inaugural 2010 class -- three from CU and one each from National Jewish Health, CSU and the Colorado School of Mines. Areas of focus include: chronic beryllium lung disease, translational bioinformatics, Parkinson's disease, Ewing Sarcoma, formation of blood clots and releasing materials for cardiovascular medical devices. Each investigator and their work will be highlighted at launch activities today.

Link for more information

6/27 Business Brief: Baumunk named new CBSA president

Holli Baumunk has been named the new president and CEO of the Colorado BioScience Association.

Baumunk has been vice president of the Denver Metro Economic Development Corp. for the past seven years. She was chosen for the CBSA post after a search that followed the resignation of John Collar earlier this year.

Baumunk’s background also includes having worked as front range business development representative for the Colorado Office of Business Development under Gov. Roy Romer. She has also been involved in the state’s bioscience community and has served as an officer with the CBSA’s board of directors.

Link to the Longmont Times-Call

DBJ Briefcase: Holben Hay Balzer CPAs

"NAME CHANGE: Denver CPA firm Holben Hay Husman is now going by Holben Hay Balzer CPAs LLC, managing partner William Holben said. The firm’s partners dropped Ned Husman’s name on the masthead and replaced it with Sheila Balzer’s. Balzer had been with Husman & Company since 1994; the firm merged with Holben’s in 2001."

Link to the June 25 Denver Business Journal Briefcase

People on the Move: CBSA's New Chief Exec

"COLORADO BIOSCIENCE ASSOCIATION: Appointed Holli Baumunk as president and chief executive. Baumunk has been vice president of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corp. for the past seven years."

Link to this morning's Denver Post

Baumunk, Metro Denver EDC exec, named CEO of Colorado BioScience Association

"Holli Baumunk, vice president of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corp. for the last seven years, has been named president and CEO of the Colorado BioScience Association, effective July 12.

Baumunk succeeds John Collar, who resigned effective Feb. 1 after 16 months at the trade group. Collar is now part of the founding management team of a new company.

Denise Brown, CBSA’s founding executive director, has been serving as interim CEO.

Baumunk was unanimously recommended to the association’s board Tuesday by a search committee."

Link to the Denver Business Journal

Bioscience association names CEO

"DENVER - Holli Baumunk, vice president of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corp. for the past seven years, today was named president and chief executive of the Colorado BioScience Association, effective July 12.

The association is a nonprofit organization that provides services and support for Colorado's biotechnology and medical device industries.

Baumunk replaces John Collar who resigned in February to pursue other interests. Denise Brown, the association's founding executive director and recently named board member, has been serving as interim executive director of the trade association during the search process."

Link to this and other breaking business news at the Boulder County Business Report

Metro Denver Economic Development Executive Holli Baumunk Named President & CEO of the Colorado BioScience Association

Holli Baumunk, Vice President of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation for the past seven years, has been named President & CEO of the Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) July 12. An accomplished economic development executive, Baumunk was chosen last year as Colorado’s Economic Developer of the Year by the Economic Development Council of Colorado, and is well known to many in the Colorado Bioscience Industry, having worked closely with the CBSA on numerous initiatives over the years.

"We are very pleased the Executive Search Committee recommended Holli Baumunk to our board for approval. She is an accomplished economic development executive, chosen last year as Colorado’s Economic Developer of the Year by the Economic Development Council of Colorado, and well known to many of us in the Colorado Bioscience Industry, having worked closely with the CBSA on numerous initiatives over the years. She brings a plethora of talents to the chief executive position at the CBSA and is highly regarded for her success in building partnerships and relationships that have become the hallmark of her extraordinary career.” Jory says.

"I am excited to lead one of the most respected industry associations in the state. Over the past year, the bioscience industry in Colorado has been one of the few sectors in the economy that has shown positive job growth. We are poised to capitalize on the strength of the industry and become a top tier national player," Baumunk says.

Link to the Business Wire release

Denver CPA Firm, Holben Hay Husman, Announces Name Change to Holben Hay Balzer CPAs, LLC

"DENVER, June 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The Denver CPA firm, Holben Hay Husman, has changed its name to Holben Hay Balzer CPAs, LLC (HHB) effective immediately. The announcement is made by William Holben, CPA, Managing Partner of HHB, who says, "As Sheila Balzer's influence in the business community, the profession and the firm has continued to grow, the firm's partners have agreed to replace Ned Husman's name on the firm masthead with Sheila's."

Balzer had been with Husman & Company since 1994, prior to its merger with the Holben firm in 2001. She specializes in audits for credit unions, pension plans, not-for-profits and family-owned businesses; plus taxation. Further, Balzer has been an active member of the Colorado Society of CPAs (CSCPA) since 1997. She is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of the University of Denver with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Accountancy.

"Having been affiliated with Ned Husman's firm since 1994 and the Holben firm for the past ten years, it's extremely gratifying to now have my name on the company," Balzer says."

Link to DenverPost.com

Denver CPA Firm, Holben Hay Husman, Is Now Holben Hay Balzer CPAs, LLC

The Denver CPA firm, Holben Hay Husman, has changed its name to Holben Hay Balzer CPAs, LLC (HHB). The announcement is made by William Holben, CPA, Managing Partner of HHB (pictured far right), who says, “As Sheila Balzer's influence in the business community, the profession and the firm has continued to grow, the firm's partners have agreed to replace Ned Husman’s name on the firm masthead with Sheila’s. We congratulate Sheila on her many accomplishments, as we recognize her in our new company name."

Balzer had been with Husman & Company since 1994, prior to its merger with the Holben firm in 2001. She specializes in audits for credit unions, pension plans, not-for-profits and family-owned businesses; plus taxation.

Further, Balzer has been an active member of the Colorado Society of CPAs (CSCPA) since 1997. She is Past Chair of the Society’s Careers in Accounting Committee, member of the Leadership Council, and Past President of the Educational Foundation. Balzer is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of the University of Denver with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Accountancy.

Link to the PR Newswire release

Link to the PR Web newswire

"Colorado harvests a green economy: About $1.1 billion in federal and venture-capital funds help boost eco-jobs from 1995 to 2007, a study says."

The Colorado Cleantech Industry Association's Executive Director Chris Shapard was quoted in this morning's feature in the Denver Post on "Colorado harvests a green economy."

"Colorado ranked 15th among states in capturing the energy-related federal stimulus funds in the past 18 months, the report said.

'Fifteenth, we ought to be able to do better than that,' said Christine Shapard, executive director of the Colorado Cleantech Industry Association...

Shapard said the report points out that 'we've had great leadership on these issues for the last four years. We have to pray that continues.'

Gov. Bill Ritter, who made promoting a 'New Energy Economy' a hallmark of his administration, is not running for re-election.

'This report very clearly and accurately documents the successes of Colorado's New Energy Economy,' Ritter said in a statement. 'Colorado is now a national leader for clean-energy policies, jobs and innovation.'"

Link to the Denver Post article by Energy Reporter Mark Jaffe

New Study on Innovation Shows Challenges Facing Colorado’s Medical Research Workers, Stresses Need for Federal Innovation Policy

Colorado's Bioscience Industry supporters gathered this week at the Colorado State Capitol for a Medical Innovation News Conference. The conference was sponsored by the Council for American Medical Innovation (CAMI) and was held to focus on a new national research study on the topic and how findings affect Colorado.

Link to a pdf of the study

Link to the news release about the conference

Video recaps of the presentations are now posted:

Welcome: Kelly Brough, Pres & CEO, Denver Metro Chamber

Walt Plosila, Ph. D., Senior Advisor, Battelle Technology Partnership

Governor Bill Ritter, Jr. -- State of Colorado Innovation in Practice

Richard Duke, Ph. D., President and Chief Executive Officer of CID4

Dana Dzwonkowski, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

Denver Post: "High-quality research and innovation are in ample supply; it's the financing that's lagging"

"'There isn't enough capital coming in to fund all of the good deals,' said Denise Brown, interim executive director of the Colorado BioScience Association. 'Our whole pipeline of innovation is going to be stymied unless we come up with a new model.'

The problem is national, even global, in scope. But it's being felt acutely in Colorado's biosciences community of mostly small companies served by a dwindling handful of local venture-capital firms.

To a degree, it's a symptom of the success the state has had in fostering the 18,000-employee bioscience sector in Colorado, Brown said. High-quality research and innovation are in ample supply; it's the financing that's lagging."

Link to the Sunday Denver Post article

Denver Post: "Lack of venture capital stymies Colorado startups"

Today's Denver Post includes a feature about the challenges of securing funding for bioscience startups. CID4's President & CEO Richard (Rick) Duke shared these thoughts:

"Venture capital is going to proven winners or those with clinical trial results rather than startups armed only with a promising idea backed by research and early lab tests, said Richard Duke, co-founder of Denver-based GlobeImmune, which is developing treatments for infectious diseases and cancer. The deals tend to be bigger than in the past, he said.

Getting a drug candidate to the level where venture-capital firms will step in can cost $5 million or more. Some companies are able to attract angel investors or government grants to make the jump. This gap is known in the biotech industry as the "valley of death" because so many companies perish there, Duke said.'

The regional early-stage companies have really gotten killed,' he said...

Duke should know. After taking GlobeImmune through early-stage funding, he left to start other ventures. GlobeImmune received $17.5 million in later-stage financing earlier this year, while Duke's new company, ApopLogic Pharmaceuticals, has been unable to attract the $2 million to $5 million in early-stage capital it needs to attract the attention of venture-capital firms.'

Today we'd never be able to get GlobeImmune off the ground. It would be very difficult,' Duke said.

To combat the problem, Duke and former Gambro president Kevin Smith launched the Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4) last year. Based in the Fitzsimons Life Science District in Aurora, CID4 provides funding and management expertise to small biotech companies.

The state backed CID4 with a five-year, $3.75 million grant and the Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority kicked in $1 million. The institute's goal is to create jobs and provide returns while helping bridge the gap for early-stage companies.CID4 is one of a handful of state or state-backed programs to bolster bioscience, which is one of four target industries designated by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade for funding to promote growth. The others are aerospace, renewable energy and tourism.

In 2008, the state created a $26.5 million fund to make grants of $150,000 to research institutions and $250,000 to companies in early stages of research and development through 2013. Another important development for Colorado biosciences is the Colorado Initiative in Molecular Biotechnology at the University of Colorado, which is headed by Nobel laureate Tom Cech and has a $145 million facility under construction."

Link to the Sunday Denver Post article

Check out the June issue of the Colorado BioScience Association FOCUS Newsletter

Inside this new issue, you'll find:

Letter from the Director

Northern Colorado Cluster Growth

Gov. Ritter Executive Orders

2010 Ballot Initiatives

AdvaMed 2010

Staff Changes at CBSA

Stay on top of the Colorado BioScience Association News.

Link to the newsletter pdf

Link to the CBSA website

Business For Breakfast: Interview with Christine Shapard

CCIA Executive Director Christine Shapard was interviewed on the Colorado Radio Network's Business For Breakfast show this morning. She was interviewed by Woody Vincent about the Association's recent $80,000 grant from the US EDA for Colorado's Cleantech Roadmap.

Link to listen to the interview:

Christine Shapard, CCIA Executive Director on the US EDA grant for the Colorado Cleantech Roadmap

Link to learn more about the Cleantech Roadmap announcement

Colorado Cleantech Industry Association Partners with the ColoradoBiz Magazine Planet-Profit Report as it Expands to Western U.S.

The Colorado Cleantech Industry Association is now a sponsor of the ColoradoBiz Planet-Profit Report (PPR), which is expanding into the Western U.S.

Energy and economic sustainability will be the focus of the new regional PPR media platform from the publishers of ColoradoBiz magazine. Published as a quarterly section in the magazine since early 2007, PPR will now be circulated weekly to stakeholders in the discussion about energy and economic sustainability from Texas north to the Dakotas and all points west.

Bart Taylor, publisher of ColoradoBiz and Planet-Profit Report, says, “We think PPR is unique in two important ways: Economic development is the lens through which we’ll report on sustainability. And second, while coverage of ‘green’ business and sustainability is most often national in scope, or hyper-local, we think a regional discussion is needed to frame the competition for money, resources and talent in renewables and clean-tech, as well as the dialogue about sustainable growth – water being a great example. It’s also in California, Arizona and Colorado’s interest for the West to build a brand as a global center for sustainable energy development."

The CCIA is excited to now be part of the PPR partnership team.

Link to the Planet-Profit Report

Subscribe to the Planet-Profit Report e-mail updates

2010 Biennial of the Americas in Denver

The 2010 Biennial of the Americas is an international event celebrating the culture, ideas and people of the Western Hemisphere, hosted by the City of Denver. Throughout the month of July, Denver will welcome national and international visitors for a cross-cultural experience bridging and unifying the artistic, intellectual and political progress of the hemisphere's 35 nations.

Through the comprehensive coordination of art exhibitions, cultural programming and conversational roundtables, the Biennial of the Americas will bring together established and emerging leaders in the the arts, culture, sciences, politics, economics and technology communities, facilitating the development of a unified vision for the future of the Western Hemisphere. During the 2010 Biennial of the Americas, ideas to encourage collaboration, artful thinking, and promote positive change will be launched from three distinct platforms (click link to explore):

McNichols at Civic Center Park

The Americas Rountable and Summits

Citywide Exhibitions

Link to the calendar of events

Purchase tickets at Ticket Horse

"Cleantech Roadmap" gets grant.

"The Colorado Cleantech Industry Association received an $80,000 grant from the Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration to develop a Cleantech Roadmap for Colorado. With receipt of the grant, the association now has the $200,000 required for the state clean-tech analysis and road map. "

Link to The Denver Post Business Brief

Link to the CCIA News Feed Blog for related coverage

Colorado Cleantech Industry Association Awarded $80,000 U.S. Department of Commerce Grant to Develop Colorado's Cleantech Roadmap

Denver, CO - June 1, 2010 - The Colorado Cleantech Industry Association (CCIA) has received an $80,000 US Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration Grant to develop a Cleantech Roadmap for the State of Colorado. The announcement is made by Christine Shapard, CCIA Executive Director, who says with receipt of the US EDA grant, the CCIA now has full funding of the $200,000 required for the state cleantech analysis and comprehensive roadmap.

Other funding entities of the plan include the Colorado Economic Development Commission, the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office, the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, the University of Colorado and Colorado State University. A state plan will provide stakeholders with a detailed view into the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to Colorado’s internationally recognized cleantech cluster, while offering a 3-5 year actionable road map to continue expansion of the cleantech cluster.

"Over the past few years we have worked hard to establish Colorado as a national and international leader in clean energy," Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Jr., said regarding the State’s participation in the project. "While we are well on our way, this new grant and roadmap will allow us to highlight our competitive advantages and continue to build an innovative and cutting-edge future for Colorado's New Energy Economy."

Link to the NewsReleaseWire

Ritter’s New Executive Orders Encourage Venture Capital Investment

"Gov.Ritter signed a pair of executive orders late last week designed to encourage venture capital investment in the state’s clean energy, bioscience, aerospace and information communication technology startups. He made the EO’s official at a Colorado BioScience Association gathering at the state Capitol.

'Over the past four years, Colorado has made huge strides in building a pro-business environment, especially in the areas of clean tech and bioscience,' Gov. Ritter said. 'Our economic development strategy is focused on the industries that are leading in innovation – industries like new energy, bioscience, aerospace and technology. For Colorado to build on these strengths and continue our success, we have to find new and creative ways to increase access to capital for our businesses. That’s what these executive orders are all about.'"

Link to Colorado Energy News