NC COIN Promotes Karen Shank To Business Development Director

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. -- NC COIN (North Carolina Center of Innovation for Nanobiotechnology) is pleased to announce the promotion of Karen Shank to Business Development Director.

Shank will provide leadership to the 501(c)3 organization as it expands its services this fall to engage a diverse community of active leaders in biotech, agriculture, and nanotechnology to accelerate ideas, drive business, and establish a culture for growth throughout North Carolina.

"Karen has a hard-to-find combination of skills and industry knowledge that are essential to COIN's continuing development as the center of a network of innovative businesses, universities, researchers, and organizations fostering the commercialization of important technologies benefitting our world," COIN Executive Director Joe Magno said.

In her role as Business Development Director, Shank is responsible for implementing and managing programs to grow the individual and corporate membership in COIN to help bring together leaders from a diverse array of industries and scientific disciplines in North Carolina and beyond. She will also lead COIN's efforts to develop a targeted series of networking events, K-12 programs, educational conferences, and meaningful seminars to help members grow their businesses globally.

Shank's professional experience includes over a decade in the pharmaceutical, software, and medical technology industries with a focus on product and business development, marketing, sales, program management and marketing. She holds a BFA in Fine Arts from Ball State University.

"I'm excited to help bring meaningful and educational events, workshops, and programs to fruition for our members and science community," Shank said.

Much of what COIN does, Shank explained, is guided through listening and speaking to members and constituents about their specific needs.

"This involves going out, networking, and making changes at a grassroots level, one person and one company at a time," she said.

Shank added that those changes and connections should include youth, which is why COIN is partnering with its founding members and organizations like the North Carolina Center for Afterschool Programs to change how the community reaches out and educates our children beyond the classroom.

The announcement of Shank's promotion comes on the heels of COIN welcoming Dr. Sharlini Sankaran, Executive Director of REACH NC, Steve Sarussi, Partner at MBHB, and Dr. Steve Greenbaum, head of the Homeland Security Division of BAI, to the organization's Advisory Council to provide guidance and advisement to the COIN Board of Directors and staff regarding programs and events. These developments come as COIN is revamping its operations and brand to reflect enhancements and expansion of its services and mission.

COIN connects influential business, technology, and educational professionals; provides forums for sharing information on new discoveries and important trends; and promotes innovative technologies to leverage our collective capacity to build a more vibrant economy. Founding members include Novozymes, Kymanox, Danis, CSC Leasing Company, Duke Energy, the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, Applied DNA Sciences, Triad Growth Partners, Total Facility Solutions, Shanahan Law Group, HP, McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff, Jones Lang LaSalle, Liquidia Technologies, Xanofi, RTI International, BAI and Bayer.

For more information on membership contact Karen Shank, Director of Business Development at [email protected].

About NC COIN

The North Carolina Center of Innovation for Nanobiotechnology (NC COIN) was organized to promote the economic development and application of nanobiotechnology and related technologies across the State of North Carolina by promoting innovation and commercialization in the fields of nanobiotechnology and nanomedicine. For information visit www.nccoin.org.