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When: Wed September 22, 2010 7:00 am
Organization: North Shore Technology Council
Location: Peabody Marriott, 8A Centernnial Drive
Program Description:
Hear from private industry and government experts – Joe Donovan of Nelson Mullins Public Strategies, George Kachen of the Office of Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property at UMass Lowell, and Len Green of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Procurement Technical Assistance Center. Moderated by Fred Morris of Brook Venture Funds I and II.
This panel will discuss approaches for accessing state and federal government funding programs (contracts, grants, loans) to further your company’s R&D efforts and fund growth – without surrendering a big chunk of your company to an investor.
Our experienced panelists will offer their varying perspectives on the best ways to market your company and its offerings to the public sector.
Discussion topics include:
Our Speakers:
Joseph M. Donovan is a registered federal and state lobbyist, who assists clients in areas such as higher education, clean energy, and defense in Nelson Mullins' Boston office. Joe is involved with federal and state initiatives and interacts regularly with officials in Washington, DC and Massachusetts. He focuses on funding and business development efforts for clients and helps identify and secure public and private sector partners for business opportunities.
He is a frequent speaker and guest columnist on sectors that impact the Massachusetts and New England economy. He is a member of the Small Business Association of New England, New England Council, Associated Industries of Massachusetts, and New England Chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association.
Len Green is a counselor on government procurement matters at the North Shore office of the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC). His specialty is helping applicants become contractors with the General Services Administration under the very popular Multiple Awards Schedule program. Prior to joining PTAC Len was associated with the Small Business Development Center at Salem State College where he gave workshops and counseled companies on how to do business with the federal government.
Len is a retired Vice President for Contracts from TASC, in Reading, MA, where he did over $500 million of annual business primarily with the U.S. Government.
George Kachen has over 30 years of experience in business development, program management and the commercialization of technology. He is currently Director, Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property, at the UMass Lowell Tech Transfer and Licensing Office which handles the evaluation and transition of faculty inventions with respect to patents, commercialization, licensing and spin-offs. Previously, Dr. Kachen was Vice President, Business Development, at Triton Systems, where he lead several initiatives that more than doubled the size of the company. While there he also closely interacted with DARPA, Air Force, Army, Navy, DTRA and the Missile Defense Agency on technology transfer.
He previously held positions at Schafer Corporation, Textron, Exxon Nuclear and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. He received his B.S. in Engineering Physics from the University of California (Berkeley), his M.S. in Nuclear Engineering from MIT and his Ph.D. in Applied Science from the University of California (Livermore/Davis).
Our Moderator:
Frederic H. Morris is a founder and Partner of Brook Venture Funds I and II. Brook I with related partnerships, invested $25 million into 17 companies. Brook II is a $100 million venture fund with SBIC license that has invested in 15 companies to date. Brook’s strategy is to focus on $3 to $6 million investments into expansion stage medical and information technology companies. Fund I has achieved top-quartile returns in its vintage peer group.
Mr. Morris is on the Boards of HistoRx, Inc.; PointCare Technologies, Inc.; Peminic, Inc.; Bioscan, Inc.; Security Innovation, Inc.; Telematch, Inc.; Laser Projection Technologies, Inc.; and Atlas Watersystems, Inc.
Prior to forming Brook, Mr. Morris founded and led the Specialized Lending Division of State Street Bank in Boston where he was a Senior Vice President and member of the Management Committee. Mr. Morris holds a BA from Yale and earned his MBA from Harvard after serving as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy.