Board of Directors
IowaBio Board Officers
Dr. Nolan Mente
Nolan is a native Iowan who was raised on a farm in Eastern Iowa, currently serving as Lead Scientist, Process Innovation at Cargill. He earned a B.S. in Chemistry at the University of Northern Iowa in 2004 prior to earning a Ph.D. in Synthetic Organic Chemistry at the University of Iowa in 2008. Following five years as a bench chemist and research manager at a Contract Research Organization, he joined Cargill in 2013 where he has been a key contributor in both the Biotechnology R&D and Engineering & Data Sciences groups. Nolan’s focus is the development of processes to generate new commercial bioproducts and refinement of existing bioproduction processes.
Joel Harris
Joel Harris is co-founder and CEO of Genvax Technologies. Harris also serves as Executive Director for the Ag Startup Engine, a seed program in Ames, IA. He was Business Development Manager for Vitalize Venture Group, a venture capital investment firm in Chicago. He previously held COO, CIO, and Vice President roles at Harrisvaccines, an international animal health vaccines company that he and his father Dr. Hank Harris sold to Merck Animal Health in 2015. Harris has a B.A. in Economics from the University of Iowa and a Post-baccalaureate Certificate in Narrative Communications from Northwestern University.
Nathan Brewer
Nathan currently serves as Director, Marketing - Enterprise Innovation at Kent Corporation. Prior to Kent, Nathan was a Sr. Director with Kynetec where he led a market team in the seed market, providing market research and strategy work for a varied client base.
Before Kynetec, Nathan was with Pioneer Hi-Bred for about 12 years moving from Research Associate into the marketing group responsible for market research and strategy, including Competitive Intelligence Manager.
Nathan has a BS Degree in Biology and Chemistry from Truman State University, a Masters in Biology from University of Missouri and an MBA from the University of Iowa.
IowaBio Board of Directors
Emily Fuerst
Mrs. Fuerst is the Director of Research and Development at Kemin Crop Technologies, a division of Kemin Industries, and is responsible for developing new and innovative solutions to protect specialty crops from pests while improving plant nutrient utilization. Her earlier scientific work included bark beetle pheromone identification, insect trapping and rearing, and collaboration with a team to identify the first pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide receptor in the moth Helicoverpa zea. In addition to her expertise in entomology, Mrs. Fuerst has a robust and diverse scientific background, including experience in the areas of microorganism engineering, enzyme development, encapsulation technologies, and formulation chemistry. She also has international and cross functional experiences in business serving as interim Director of Research and Development for Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health in Brazil (2012-2014) and separately served as interim Sales Director and Technical Services Manager for Kemin Crop Technologies (2019-2020). Mrs. Fuerst is passionate about science, biotechnology, and seeing more STEM business growth and opportunities in Iowa. Mrs. Fuerst is also currently a member of the Iowa Governor’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Advisory Board (2017-present).
Dr. Rachel Binning
Global Regulatory Portfolio lead – Soybeans, Corteva Agriscience. Binning holds an undergraduate degree in biology, and a master’s and Ph.D. in entomology from Iowa State University.
Mohan Dasari
Mohan is currently VP of Technology and Innovation at Feed Energy Company where he oversees product and process R&D, process improvement, quality, and food safety. Mohan’s expertise lies in transforming byproducts from various industries into value-added products in the feed, fuel, and industrial chemical sectors. Beyond his professional life, Mohan shares the same passion in transforming lives of underprivileged students, women and farmers through education and gaining self-employment. Born and raised in southeast part of India, Mohan calls Des Moines as his ‘home away from home’ where he lives with his wife and two daughters. Mohan holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from University of Missouri and a MBA from University of Iowa.
Irma Fisher
Irma received her Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from Iowa State University in May 2011. She began her career at legacy Monsanto/Bayer within Plant Biotechnology in October 2011. She currently serves as Workflow Lead within Bayer U.S. – Crop Science.
Irma holds an exceptional understanding of high-throughput lab processes and a passion for efficiency, accuracy, and quality across a 24-hour operation.
Dr. Martin Gross
Dr. Martin Gross is the CEO and founder at Gross-Wen Technologies (GWT). GWT is a next generation wastewater treatment company that has commercialized the revolving algal biofilm treatment technology (RAB). The RAB system sustainably recovers nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater. The byproducts from the process are clean water, clean air, and algae biomass, which can be used to create products ranging from fertilizers to nutraceuticals. During his role as CEO at GWT, he has raised over $15M in equity investments and raised over $7M grant funding, been granted 14 patents, and has sold over $20M in water treatment equipment.
Prior to founding GWT, Gross attained dual doctoral degrees from Iowa State University in the fields of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science and Technology. Gross also serves as a professor of entrepreneurship at ISU.
Dr. Marty Haverly
Dr. Haverly is Chevron’s Renewable Fuels Delivery Manager and Sr. Manager of Product & Process Development, where he leads renewable fuels technology strategy, development, and commercialization. He also oversees operations at the Ames Technology Center, Chevron’s 45,000 sqft R&D facility in Ames, IA and manages a technical team focused on advancing renewable feedstocks, conversion processes, and product innovation. Martin joined Chevron through the acquisition of Renewable Energy Group in 2022, holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and Biorenewable Resources from Iowa State University, and serves on the boards of America’s Cultivation Corridor and Forge Hydrocarbons.
Joe Hrdlicka
Since 2018, Joe Hrdlicka has been Senior Manager of State Government Affairs for Genentech. He’s responsible for several Upper Midwest states working with executive and legislative branch policy makers to develop favorable policy toward innovation and patient access toward innovative treatments.
Hrdlicka was the executive director of the Iowa Biotechnology Association from 2014 to 2018. He served as chief executive of this 100-member organization of biotech companies where he was responsible for annual budgeting and direction of all operations including strategic planning, member communication, events and advocacy. Prior to that, he was Vice President, Public Affairs for the Iowa Communications Alliance – the state’s broadband industry organization. He reported to the CEO as an advocate for this statewide association in all legislative and regulatory matters. He was responsible for developing and influencing legislation in the Iowa General Assembly, monitoring federal and state regulatory developments and maintaining
positive relationships with Congressional offices. He also served as spokesperson to media and other significant audiences.
Hrdlicka worked 13 years for the Iowa Lottery where he reported to the CEO in various capacities. In his tenure at the Lottery, he worked as Legislative Liaison, Public Relations Manager and Vice President, Marketing.
Hrdlicka came to Iowa to work for the campaign of Congressman Jim Lightfoot in 1992. He then went on to serve as the Congressman’s District Office Director. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism. Hrdlicka grew up in St. Louis, but has lived in West Des Moines since 1995 with his wife Betsy.
Dr. Marie Kerbeshian
Dr. Kerbeshian is Assistant Vice President and Executive Director of the UIRF where she oversees UI’s commercialization efforts for technology developed at the university. She is a Certified Licensing Professional™ and a registered patent agent with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. She has over two decades of experience in commercializing university innovations. Prior to joining the UIRF in 2017, Marie led the offices for the Indiana University system and at the University of Virginia. Marie is widely sought as a trainer and consultant for technology transfer best practices both in the United States and internationally
Marie graduated from Wellesley College with highest honors in biological sciences and earned a PhD in zoology from the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to joining University of Virginia’s commercialization office, she was a postdoctoral fellow at that university’s Center for Research in Reproduction in the Health Sciences Center and at the National Science Foundation’s Center for Biological Timing in the Department of Biology.
Mark Laurenzo
Business Development Manager, Project Management, Iowa Economic Development Authority
Brian McCormac
Brian is a partner at the BrownWinick Law Firm, where he serves on the firm’s Executive Committee and chairs the Recruiting Committee. Brian serves as outside general counsel for several companies and leads the firm’s Data Security and Privacy team. He is also actively involved in the firm’s Business and Corporate Law, Litigation, intellectual Property, and Agribusiness practice groups, assisting clients with a wide range of legal concerns. Prior to joining BrownWinick, Brian practiced at two AmLaw 50 Firms, served as corporate counsel for a multinational ag biotech company, and was the general counsel and interim executive director of a regional water utility. Brian received his undergraduate degree, cum laude, from Coe College and his law degree, with distinction, from the University of Iowa College of Law. He is actively involved in the Trade Regulation and Corporate Counsel sections of the Iowa State Bar Association, and serves as a Board Member of the Des Moines Area Religious Council, the Amadora Legacy Project and the Orchard Place Foundation.
Dr. James Reecy
Dr. James Reecy currently serves as an Associate Vice President for Research at Iowa State University, where he oversees the Office of Sponsored Programs Administration and internal funding programs and fosters the development of interdisciplinary teams. He joined the faculty of Iowa State University in February of 1999 and is currently a Professor in the Department of Animal Science. He received a B.S. degree from South Dakota State University; an M.S. degree from the University of Missouri, Columbia; and a Ph.D. degree from Purdue University. He served as the Director of the Office of Biotechnology, which administered 10 fee-for-service core facilities for 10 years. Dr. Reecy currently is the NRSP-8 database coordinator, where he leads national efforts to improve the computational resources available for genomics research on livestock species. In addition, he is currently serving as a 2018 Association of Public and Land Grant Universities (APLU) Council on Research Fellow. During his career, Dr. Reecy has worked on problems in ruminant nutrition, skeletal muscle growth and development, embryonic heart development, beef and mouse molecular and quantitative genetics, and livestock bioinformatics. His lab has worked on beef cattle molecular genetics with a focus on improving the nutrient content of beef and the health of cattle, as well as, the development of database resourced to facilitate genomics research.
Dr. Alicia Rosburg
Dr. Rosburg is currently the professor and interim department head of economics and the MBA program coordinator at the UNI Wilson College of Business. She earned a doctorate in economics, specializing in agricultural and environmental economics, from Iowa State University and her undergraduate degree in economics from UNI.
Tom Swegle
Tom Swegle is a serial entrepreneur who chases opportunities that focus on investing, developing and launching business entities that build value within the prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) biopharmaceutical and life sciences sectors. Example sectors include clinical pharmaceutical organizations, e-commerce pet medications, and medical marijuana companies.
Tom has been a partner and CEO for biopharmaceutical institutions such as RegenaCorp and MedCara Pharmaceuticals, working throughout his career to push the envelopes of science, technology and commercial strategy from products developed from the bench of compounding pharmacies. Tom has invested in and/or worked for entrepreneurial companies such as VetCara, NuCara Management Group, Paragon Manufacturing, John Deere Health and The Meyocks Group.
He has successfully developed and implemented a compounding prescription model to dispense products such as Med101 under the brand name WartPEEL®, a topical prescription treatment for resistant warts that can be prescribed in all 50 U.S. states. The development of WartPEEL® has resulted in the creation of marketing and pharmacy operations, distribution, reimbursement strategies and supporting infrastructures for the Med101 therapy, thus gaining valuable anecdotal patient feedback and impressive revenue streams.
Tom has over 10 years of pharmaceutical executive experience that has involved the direction, preparation and implementation of out-licensing and partner materials including investor briefing documents, financial and valuation models, market scaling, intellectual property, clinical and regulatory data. Tom has successfully negotiated with the FDA to approve pre-clinical data and received approval to begin Phase I human studies and filing for Med101. He has directed the consultant services in preparing, filing, and otherwise advising in the preparation and filing of INDs, Supplemental NDAs, NDAs, investigational brochures, labeling, orphan applications and Investigator INDs. He has negotiated with the FDA on pre-IND, end of phase I-II, pre-NDA meetings and resolution of clinical hold and general issues.
A Fortune 150 Executive and Marketing Leader, Tom received a “Gold” acknowledgement for healthcare branding by the National Healthcare Marketing Report. He has enjoyed a diverse marketing and management career that has included key positions with well-known firms and brands including John Deere.
Anders Thomsen
Business Unit Manager for Eurofins Nutrition Analysis Center in Des Moines, IA
Dr. Christopher Warner
Christopher Warner, PhD, is a biotechnology executive with experience in the innovation and commercialization of purified and recombinant protein products supporting the nutrition, diagnostics, and therapeutics markets. As Vice President of Research & Development at Proliant Health & Biologicals, he has led the development of commercialized products, managed pre-clinical and clinical trial research, contributed to over 20 scientific publications and presentations. Earlier in his career, Dr. Warner conducted research on bioremediation of herbicides, structure function relationships of cellulosic enzymes, and protein engineering of modular immunotoxins. He also conducted postdoctoral research at The Scripps Research Institute and holds a PhD in Chemical and Biological Engineering from Iowa State University and a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Iowa.
Dr. Eric Vaughn
Eric Vaughn currently serves as Director, New Biological Entities and as site head of the Ames Veterinary Research Center in Ames, Iowa for Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health (BIAH) Global Innovation. Eric has been engaged in a variety of scientific, project management and leadership roles during his tenure at BIAH and currently leads a team of scientists in the application of expression technologies for Research projects to ultimately result in the licensing of novel vaccines and therapeutics for Animal Health.
An exciting aspect of Eric’s work at BIAH are opportunities to span global boundaries to engage and inspire Research scientists to work together towards shared goals. Over 40 patents have resulted from Eric’s work at BIAH utilizing molecular virology approaches, vectored vaccines, and platform technologies for vaccines directed against viral pathogens. Throughout Eric’s tenure at BIAH, he has been involved in external collaborations with Iowa State University, USDA-National Animal Disease Center, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, and several other Universities which have helped BIAH bring innovative vaccines to the marketplace. Eric received his Ph.D. (Immunobiology) and MS (Veterinary Microbiology) from Iowa State University, and he is currently appointed as an Affiliate Associate Professor in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine along with an appointment in the Microbiology Graduate Program at Iowa State University.
Dr. Craige Wrenn
Craige C. Wrenn, PhD, is Professor of Pharmacology and Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Drake University. He also serves as the Director of the Drake-Vanadro Drug Development Fellowship. He holds a doctorate in Pharmacology from Vanderbilt University and completed post-doctoral studies at the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, MD. At Drake, Dr. Wrenn teaches neuro- and psychopharmacology to pharmacy, neuroscience, and psychology students , and he maintains a research program that uses animal models and behavioral pharmacology to answer questions about Alzheimer's Disease, Fragile X Syndrome, and endocrine disruptors.