Baiju R. Shah is President and CEO and a Founder of BioEnterprise. He focuses on BioEnterprise's strategic initiatives as well as counseling clients on business and financial matters. Prior to BioEnterprise, Shah was with McKinsey & Company, where he played a leading role in the Growth and Business Building practice. In the community, Shah serves on Boards of The Saint Luke’s Foundation, Great Lakes Science Center, Yale Alumni Association, NorTech, TiE Ohio, and Summer on the Cuyahoga, and also the Governor’s Third Frontier Biomedical Advisory Board, Workforce Policy Board, and Strategic Development Advisory Boards. Shah received a J.D. from Harvard and his B.A. from Yale. Links to biography and photo.

Bob Baxter leads strategic planning, alliances, and administrative operations. He has spent more than 30 years in the private sector, most recently as Vice President of the Regulatory Studies business unit of Ricerca, a contract drug development company. In this position, he was responsible for the pre-clinical testing necessary for FDA IND/NDA submittals. Baxter received a M.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from Ohio State University and a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Detroit.

Carol Clark leads the company’s effort for advising growth stage health care opportunities including acquisition-based approaches. Clark brings 20 years of experience in structuring and syndicating complex leveraged buyouts, acquisition financings and business expansion facilities at the Bank of Boston and Aetna Life & Casualty.  Recently she was involved as a founding officer and Board member in the creation of NineSigma, a Cleveland-based technology start-up. She served as the company's CFO and was a key member of the private equity fund raising team. Currently she serves on the Industry Advisory Board for the Cornell Center for Technology Enterprise and Commercialization. Clark, a CFA, received an M.B.A. from Cornell University and B.A. from Wesleyan University.

Bob Johnson is a leader of the medical devices team at BioEnterprise. He has an extensive background in the medical device industry across many functions including new ventures, marketing and business development. Johnson has commercialized devices, instrumentation, and diagnostic technologies for cardiology, radiology, obstetrics/gynecology, pulmonology and urology applications. In addition, he has completed numerous transactions including financings, acquisitions, licenses and strategic alliances in his work. Throughout his career, Mr. Johnson has worked in executive capacities for medical device companies including C.R. Bard, Respironics, and Mallinckrodt. Johnson has a B.S. in Business Administration from Loyola University in Baltimore, Maryland.

Susan Luria leads the company's efforts to attract and develop medical imaging companies in the region. Her background includes managing operations, mergers, acquisitions, expansion activities and divestitures in both venture-financed and publicly traded healthcare service companies. Prior to BioEnterprise, Luria worked with Team NEO, a regional economic development organization where she led efforts to successfully attract a number of large businesses, including some biomedical companies, to establish and expand their operations in Northeast Ohio. Those efforts required partnering businesses with potential customers, suppliers, service providers and various forms of governmental support. Luria received an M.B.A. from Case Western Reserve and a B.A. from Dartmouth.

Aram Nerpouni focuses on healthcare service and software companies. He brings over 10 years of experience in international market development and management. Nerpouni consulted with U.S. companies on sales, marketing and distribution strategies for entering new markets in Europe, Asia and Latin America. He also worked as a Director of Marketing at The Bonne Bell Company, where he was a member of the corporate leadership team and was responsible for new market development, brand management, new category development and licensing. Early in his career, Nerpouni also worked with an executive search firm whose services included management assessment and development. Nerpouni received his Executive MBA from Case Western Reserve and a B.S. in Biology from Stanford.

Karen Spilizewski is a leader of BioEnterprise's medical device team and is also a Vice President with RiverVest Ventures. She brings nearly 20 years of experience in new product development and business development in medical and non-medical technologies. Spilizewski worked as a business development manager at Avery Dennison and in product development roles ranging from research manager to associate. She was responsible for conducting marketing, financial, technical, and competitive analyses of new opportunities for microelectronic, biomedical, optical display, and MEMs applications. In product development roles, she has developed and commercialized products for various medical devices, including wound care, diagnostics, surgical, and electromedical applications. Spilizewski received her MBA, M.S. in Macromolecular Science and a B.S. degree in Biomedical Engineering from Case Western Reserve.

Jim Weisman leads BioEnterprise’s efforts in serving and developing start-up health care software and service opportunities. He brings almost 20 years of experience in general management, having worked in senior management at PepsiCo and Macy’s as well as consulting to major financial institutions while with the First Manhattan Consulting Group. Weisman served on the management team of HealthSync, a start-up company developing marketplaces for defined-contribution based corporate sponsored health insurance. He has worked with Glengary Ventures, a fund focused on technology based companies, and provided consulting and executive management services to early-stage companies in the biotech and satellite communications industries. Weisman received his B.S. in Economics from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and his Executive MBA from Case Weatherhead School of Management.

Tom Facklam is a CEO in residence and is a member of the biopharmaceutical team. Facklam has 25 years of experience in development, manufacturing, and regulatory affairs with major pharmaceutical and biotech companies. He has been a senior executive with Johnson & Johnson, DSM, Serono, Biomira, Creative BioMolecules and the Alberta Research Council. Facklam has developed and commercialized drugs, biologics and devices in a wide range of therapeutic areas including oncology, cardiovascular, orthopedic, reproductive, CNS, and wound care indications. He received his B.S. from Cornell and Ph.D. from Ohio State.

Glen Gaughan focuses on developing and supporting biopharmaceutical companies for BioEnterprise. He works closely with a number of the companies, supporting the development of their business strategies and operating plans. Gaughan has almost 20 years of experience as a drug discovery scientist with Bristol-Myers Squibb. In roles ranging from Principal Investigator to Group Leader, he contributed to programs searching for new medications for pain, obesity, sleep disorders, and depression, and for contrast agents for MRI. Gaughan designed ProHance, an MRI contrast agent marketed by Bracco. Gaughan holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Oregon, an MBA from Case Western Reserves, and a B.A. from Dartmouth.

R.K. Khosla is a serial technology entrepreneur who was most recently the CEO of Peritec Biosciences, a Cleveland Clinic medical device spinout. Khosla has a wide background in finance, entrepreneurship and venture capital. Highlights include two years as a Principal concentrating on wireless technologies at Crystal Ventures, a tech venture fund with $240 million under management with offices in Cleveland, Palo Alto, Singapore & Taipei. He was also CFO and Director of Back Office Operations for All Wound Up which was sold to Borders Group. Khosla started his career at National City in Corporate Banking with the majority of his time being spent in Merchant Banking and Mergers & Acquisitions. Khosla received a BS in Electrical Engineering and Applied Physics with an Economics Minor from Case Western Reserve University and his MBA from Yale.

Jon Snyder is a CEO In Residence at BioEnterprise and also a Venture Partner with Arboretum Venture. He has over 20 years of management experience in biomedical and healthcare sales and marketing with significant experience in bringing new products into the marketplace. Jon's background covers business development, product development, market management, and sales management. He has helped launch and manage products in the neurology, neurosurgery, urology, gynecology, gastroenterology, plastic surgery, spine, endoscopy, sterilization, and infection prevention markets at small and large companies including Cyberonics, Cardinal Health, Imalux, and Steris. Snyder has a B.S. in Communication from Ohio University.

Meg Groh focuses on business development for biopharmaceutical companies and also oversees the due diligence process for new opportunities. She has extensive research experience at the Jefferson Institute of Molecular Medicine, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the University of Chicago and Case Western Reserve University. Her work covered several areas of molecular medicine including lipid metabolism, molecular cardiology, and stem cell biology. Groh received a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, a B.S. from Tulane University and an M.B.A. from Case Weatherhead School of Management.

Denise Richardson serves as a Director of Business Development, overseeing BioEnterprise's due diligence review of opportunities and the development of a network of regional resources to support health care company growth. Her corporate experience includes managing the Microbiology laboratory for Mogul Corporation, then a division of Dexter Corp. She was also the Vice President of Regulatory Affairs for United States Biochemical (USB) and Director of Regulatory Affairs for Amersham Pharmacia Biotech. Richardson has worked in research laboratories at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), Harvard University Medical School, and Eli Lilly. Richardson received her B.S. degree in Microbiology, with highest distinction, from Purdue University, and her M.S. in Marine Biology from Boston University.

Nancy Rubin serves select BioEnterprise companies as an Acting CFO. For more than ten years, Rubin has served as a contract financial and administrative specialist working in financial, administrative, and operational assessment and development for early stage to medium-sized companies. Her clients have included biopharmaceutical, medical device, healthcare, manufacturing, telecommunications, distribution, and professional service companies, including Osiris Therapeutics. Rubin has also worked in a variety of financial capacities for companies including TRW, American Specialty Foods, and Ottosensors.

Raymond E. Ursick has been a Regulatory Affairs and Quality Systems professional for over 25 years. He has obtained FDA approvals for diagnostic imaging devices, cardiovascular devices and implants, sterilization and other infection control devices, surgical devices, electronic pain management and therapy devices, and critical care monitoring equipment. Additionally, he has led successful programs to achieve ISO 9001/EN46001, ISO 13485 certification, to obtain CE Marking, and to achieve Quality Awards using Malcolm Baldridge criteria. Ursick has held executive positions at three Johnson & Johnson operating companies (Technicare, Critikon, and Interventional Systems) and at STERIS as Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and Quality Systems.

Bill Poore manages finance and administration functions for both BioEnterprise and BioOhio. The functions include financial projections and statements, grants managements, accounting, personnel administration, and general operations. He brings over 30 years of experience in these areas to BioEnterprise. Poore holds both an MBA in Finance and a BBA in Accounting from Cleveland State University.

Annette Ballou leads strategic marketing for BioEnterprise, helping the initiative and its companies in market positioning, message definition, and communication strategy. Ballou has over 20 years of experience in healthcare marketing and business development in a range of private companies. She has expertise in strategic planning and implementation, business development, marketing, communications and operations, Ballou received her J.D. from Southern Methodist University as well as a B.A. in English and a B.S. in Psychology.

Laurie Toth is the marketing manager at BioEnterprise. In this capacity she performs industry market research, produces the quarterly electronic newsletter, facilitates events and conferences and manages the website and IT systems. Ms. Toth received her BA in Business Administration from Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio.

Juilee holds an MSc degree in Bioengineering from the University of Strathclyde, UK . She is currently pursuing her full-time MBA at CWRU Weatherhead School of Management. Juilee joined BioEnterprise in August, 2008 and is currently working as a Business Development Associate. She is involved in a wide range of due diligence and market research activities. Prior to this experience, Juilee worked as a Research and Development Engineer at Vascutek, UK and as a Research and Marketing Executive at Novel Healthcare Products, India.

Priyanka joined BioEnterprise in October, 2008 and is currently working as a Business Development Associate. She is involved in a wide range of due diligence and market research activities focused mainly in the biopharmaceutical sector. Concurrently, Priyanka is pursuing a Graduate Degree in Biotechnology Entrepreneurship at Case Western Reserve University. Prior to this experience, Priyanka worked as an intern in the Regulatory Affairs Department & Clinical Research Unit of Aventis Pharma Ltd., India and as a Clinical Biochemist in King Edward Memorial Hospital, India. Priyanka received a Masters Degree in Biochemistry and an Advanced Diploma in Food Science and Quality Control from the University of Mumbai, India.

Anirudhan joined BioEnterprise in January 2009 as a Business Development Associate and is involved in patent analysis, market research and assisting in business plan formulation for startup biotechnology and medical device companies. He is currently pursuing his Master’s Degree in Biotechnology Entrepreneurship at Case Western Reserve University. Anirudhan previously worked as an Assistant Quality Control Engineer at ARC Aqua Pura Pvt Ltd, India, and was involved with agricultural management at Jagirmane Estates Pvt Ltd, India. Anirudhan holds a B.Tech degree in Biotechnology from SRM University, Chennai, India.

Smitha joined BioEnterprise in January 2009 as a Business Development Associate and is involved in conducting market research and preparing initial reviews and due diligence summaries for early stage medical device companies. Smitha holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology and is currently pursuing her Master’s in the Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Program (Entrepreneurial Biotechnology) at Case Western Reserve University.

Dr. Ramy Razek received his degree in Medicine from Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt and is currently a Fulbright Scholar pursuing an MBA in management at the University of Akron. Dr. Razek joined BioEnterprise in May 2008 as a business development associate and is directly supporting the development of regional collaboration in biopolymers and orthopedics. Dr. Razek initially worked as an orthopedic surgeon at the National Institute of Neuromotor System in Egypt and then joined the Technical Office of the Minister of Health and Population as Assistant Director. Upon completion of his MBA, Dr. Razek has been invited to return to Egypt to participate in the Ministry of Health and Population’s health care reform program.

Mithun joined BioEnterprise in September 2008 as a Business Development Associate and is directly involved in conducting initial business plan reviews, financial valuation analysis, and due diligence reviews for emerging medical device and health care service companies. Before joining BioEnterprise Mithun worked for several years as a financial analyst for Bernstein, Litowitz, Berger & Grossmann, LLP, a securities litigation firm in New York, where he analyzed the merits of potential new securities cases and consulted clients on pursuit of litigation. Mithun is currently pursuing a joint-degree Juris Doctorate and MBA from Case Western Reserve University.