Key Takeaways
- Mark R. Schweiker and J. David Owens are newly elected members of the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center’s Board of Directors.
- Schweiker, a former Governor of Pennsylvania, brings extensive experience in corporate leadership and community engagement.
- Owens, with over 40 years in the biotech field, is the current CEO of BiologicsMD and has held leadership roles in major pharmaceutical companies.
Leadership Addition at PABC
The Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center (PABC) has appointed two notable business leaders from Bucks County to its Board of Directors: Mark R. Schweiker, a former Governor of Pennsylvania, and J. David Owens, a seasoned biotech entrepreneur. Their unanimous election occurred during the PABC’s winter meeting.
Louis P. Kassa III, CEO of the Hepatitis B Foundation and the Blumberg Institute, expressed excitement about their contributions. “Both Gov. Schweiker and David Owens are brilliant business leaders,” Kassa stated, emphasizing their in-depth knowledge of the biotech sector and commitment to the local community. Their involvement is expected to bolster the strength and growth of the PABC.
Mark R. Schweiker has been a lifelong resident of Bucks County. He served as Governor from 2001 to 2003 and previously held the position of Lieutenant Governor from 1994 to 2001. His corporate experience is substantial, offering strategic guidance to Fortune 500 companies and nonprofits alike. Schweiker’s leadership at the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce earned him accolades, including the Life Sciences Public Official of the Year. He was instrumental in establishing the PABC, aiding in securing state support for the Doylestown facility that now houses more than 60 startups in life sciences.
J. David Owens, the current president and CEO of BiologicsMD, brings over 40 years of management experience in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. Since 2013, he has led BiologicsMD and also served as a General Partner with Bowman’s Tower Venture Partners. His past accomplishments include leading OrthogenRx through its acquisition by Avanos. Owens has held executive roles at King Pharmaceuticals, Aventis Pharma, and Genentech, among others, and is actively involved in several local biotech firms.
PABC employs a successful services-based approach to aid its member companies, cultivating big dreams and significant achievements in the biotech sector. It comprises about 90 member organizations, predominantly small to mid-sized biotech and life sciences companies. Nearly 60 of these companies operate from the Doylestown campus, which is central to the mission of the Hepatitis B Foundation and Blumberg Institute. PABC also manages B+labs at Cira Centre in Philadelphia, an incubator housing 18 resident companies. Over recent years, PABC has substantially impacted the economy, documented to support nearly 1,000 jobs and maintain an economic influence of $7.1 billion.
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