Partnering for Cures // Expert Consultations

Communications & Marketing

These consultations will address strategies for building visibility and credibility with collaborators and media. They will examine how to evaluate and pursue promotional and thought leadership opportunities, how to develop a compelling and differentiating narrative about your organization/project, and where/how to engage key opinion leaders and potential collaborators.

Karen L. Bergman, Founder and Partner, BCC Partners, LLC
With two decades of experience, Karen Bergman is a highly trained and effective senior executive in the strategic planning and high-quality execution of branding, communications, investor relations, and executive coaching for innovative biotechnology, medical device, and pharmaceutical companies and organizations at all stages of development. Bergman applies her biopharmaceutical industry, consulting, advocacy, and journalism experience to competitive branding, recognition, financing, and partnering goals. BCC Partners maintains a diverse client portfolio of biotechnology, specialty pharmaceutical and medical device companies, venture capital firms, and industry organizations. Prior to founding BCC Partners, Bergman was vice president, corporate and investor relations for ALZA Corporation. She also served as senior vice president and director, life sciences practice for Burns McClellan, Inc., and at Burson-Marsteller and Edelman Worldwide. Bergman received her bachelor of arts cum laude with academic distinction from Yale University. She is a board member and business advisor to the Epilepsy Therapy Project and www.epilepsy.com, a member of FasterCures' Philanthropy Advisory Services committee, a business advisor to the Biotechnology Industry Organization and FasterCures' Partnering for Cures conference, and a member of the National Investor Relations Institute and co-chair of its BioPharma Roundtable.

Alex Brownstein - Senior Vice President, DJE Science
Alex Brownstein has 18 years experience in the bioscience industry as a marketing strategist, lawyer, and award-winning public relations executive. He chairs the New York State Bar Association's Committee on Medical Research and Biotechnology and co-founded the Business Incubator Association of New York State. Brownstein is currently senior vice president at DJE Science (Edelman Public Relations), providing science strategy on pipeline molecules and identifying how new therapeutics can best be used in the clinical setting. Prior to Edelman, Brownstein was general counsel and vice president for public relations at Integrated Tissue Dynamics, LLC, a start-up biomedical research company. Earlier, Brownstein ran a large university research facility with capabilities in proteomics, gene arrays, molecular biology, and the construction of transgenic mice. He also advised dozens of start-up biotechnology companies while overseeing a biotech business incubator. As past vice president at Edelman, New York and Ketchum, San Francisco, he worked on dozens of biopharmaceutical/life sciences ventures or products, most notably Genentech's $1 billion bio-oncology portfolio. Other past clients include IBM Life Sciences, Merck, Pfizer, Aventis, Novartis, Wyeth, Medtronic, Roche, J&J, Schering-Plough, and Eli Lily. He was also previously with Nature Biotechnology and authored several articles on the business of biotechnology.

Mark Krueger - President, Mark Krueger & Associates
Mark Krueger founded Mark Krueger & Associates, Inc. (MK&A) in 1996 to help biotech, pharmaceutical, device, and diagnostic companies partner with patient, consumer, and professional groups to speed drug development and approval, promote appropriate use, and ensure equitable access and reimbursement. Under Krueger's direction, MK&A has created a unique niche in global healthcare through its singular focus on advocacy, demonstrating repeatedly that integration of patient, consumer, and professional groups' viewpoints can create better healthcare for all. Krueger brings 25 years of public health and advocacy experience to the firm, including his knowledge of oncology, HIV/AIDS, other infectious diseases, women's health, and orphan disorders. He has earned respect for his strategic approach to building equitable and responsible partnerships with patients, advocates, doctors and other healthcare professionals, and policymakers through his mediation and moderation skills as well as his understanding of the changing external environment for ally relations and appropriate responses to legislative, regulatory, ally group, and public expectations. In addition to his leadership role at MK&A, Krueger sits on boards and committees at several organizations, including the National Organization for Rare Disorders, National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, and Cancer Care. He is also an honorary member of EURORDIS.

Barbara Lavery - President, Zoomedia
Barbara Lavery is responsible for Zoomedia's continuing leadership in life science communications, developing innovative marketing, branding, and communications programs that combine traditional and new media expertise. During her 13-year tenure at Zoomedia, she has built the Zoomedia brand and client base and has become a recognized life science communications expert creating and implementing numerous successful online campaigns for leading companies and nonprofit organizations. Lavery's client experience spans pharmaceutical companies, disease research organizations, and venture capital groups including Novo Nordisk, Gilead, Celgene, the Love/Avon Army of Women, the Epilepsy Therapy Project, the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, TPG Biotech, and Burrill & Company. Prior to joining Zoomedia, Lavery had a successful career as a stage production designer, including a five-year stint at the Abbey Theater in Dublin. She graduated with honors from Central St. Martins College of Art in London.

Maureen Suda - Principal, Suda Communications LLC
Maureen Suda has 17 years of experience providing innovative strategies and quantifiable business results to organizations in the drug development, health science, and high-tech sectors. Her experience includes the launch of and ongoing public relations awareness campaigns for numerous prescription drugs, the promotion of breakthrough scientific discoveries, and communications support for more than $6 billion in business development and financing transactions. Formerly, Suda led communications for the worldwide R&D organization at the Eastman Kodak Company during the company's recent digital transformation. Suda previously held two positions at Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. She served as associate director of public policy, supporting government relations activities for the company, and earlier directed public relations while serving as the media spokesperson. Suda held account management responsibility at two leading New York-based public relations agencies, Chandler Chicco and Burson-Marsteller, where she supported communication programs for clients such as Pfizer, Searle, Bayer, Wyeth, Bristol-Myers Squib, and Sanofi. She began her career at the Federation of American Hospitals in Washington, D.C. She holds a bachelor of arts in economics and history from the University at Buffalo, is a graduate of the Bryce Harlow Institute of Business and Government Affairs at Georgetown University, and earned a master of science in public relations from Boston University.

DISCLAIMER
The Expert Consultations at Partnering for Cures are informal sessions intended to be informational in nature. The individuals serving in the role of experts are providing their advice pro bono, and before acting upon any such advice you should consult with your own experts or consultants who are more familiar with your particular organizations. Neither the consultants nor the sponsors of Partnering for Cures shall be liable in any manner with respect to the outcomes or consequences that may result from any actions taken based upon the guidance offered in these sessions.

2011
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