Team
Gwen Acton, PhD
CEO
Gwen Acton, PhD, is an expert on the intersection of science and business. She is CEO of Vivo Group, a consulting firm that improves productivity and innovation in life science and technology companies through strategic leadership development. Prior to this, she served as Director of Scientific Development at the Whitehead Institute, where she established institute strategy for building long-term relationships with industry. Dr. Acton also ran the operations of the Functional Genomics Program, overseeing operations for a $40 million, 50-person sponsored research program related to the Human Genome Project, while successfully managing alliances with industry sponsors.
Dr. Acton received a doctorate in biology from M.I.T. where she worked in a Nobel-Prize winning laboratory. She next served as a faculty member at Harvard University in the department of Molecular and Cellular Biology. Dr. Acton recently led the non-profit group Women Entrepreneurs in Science & Technology (WEST), where she expanded membership and programming by over 10-fold. She currently serves a member of the Board of Directors of The Bioscience Network (TBN).
Dr. Acton is the author of the book The Bluffer’s Guide to Genetics, published by Oval Books. She has also authored industry reports published by the Cambridge Healthtech Institute, and has written over 50 freelance articles for organizations such as the Associated (AP), National Public Radio, and Technology Review Magazine. A popular speaker and moderator, Dr. Acton is a member of the National Speakers Association.
Maura Snow
Senior Affiliate
Maura Snow is a VP and Senior Consultant in Human Resources at Great Brook Biotech. She has over 20 years experience in the role of Senior Human Resources Leader and has worked with individuals and organizations from life sciences, pharmaceutical sales, distribution, and legacy manufacturing. Her work includes Human Resources leadership with Fortune 100 companies, mid-sized organizations, and two-person start up environments. She has advised company presidents, regional leaders, floor supervisors and union stewards, bringing these groups together in major productivity improvement projects. Prior to her current position, she served as VP, Human Resources at Basilea Pharmaceuticals, as HR Director at EMD Lexigen Research Center, and as HR Manager at Merck Medco. She holds a Masters degree in Public Administration from Brigham Young University, and is accredited by the Society for Human Resources Management. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of The Bioscience Network (TBN), a professional organization for scientists and operational professionals in life sciences. She is a member of the New England Compensation Consortium, The Boston Club, and a trusted affiliate of the Boston Business group.
Robert Gottlieb
Affiliate
Robert Gottlieb has more than 30 years of experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries as a consultant on strategy and communications, successfully working with over 100 companies and organizations ranging from start-ups in and outside of the U.S. to multi-nationals. Mr. Gottlieb brings particular expertise in corporate positioning, external and internal communications strategy, and preparation for financing and partnering. He is currently a Principal at the communications and strategy consulting firm, RMG Associates. Prior to this, he co-founded Feinstein Kean Healthcare (now a division of Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide), and directed press relations and corporate communications at Biogen Inc. In addition, he served as executive editor of F-D-C Reports, “The Pink Sheet,” where he covered the FDA and drug regulation, pharmaceutical business and the emergence of biotechnology as an industry, as well as founding The NDA Pipeline, a reference publication for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, which has been published annually for more than 25 years.
Paul Hutchinson
Affiliate
Paul
Hutchinson has over 20 years of corporate and
private experience enabling companies to achieve significant sales growth through
systematic approaches to their business development and sales
processes. Mr. Hutchinson has worked with a wide range of industries, and has
been a consultant to business owners, new entrepreneurs, non-profits and
professional associations and individuals, specializing in sales
strategy, sales training/coaching and sales process improvement. A
graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, Mr. Hutchinson
currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Middlesex West Chamber
of Commerce and as a consultant with his own practice. For the past
five years, Mr. Hutchinson has also provided public and private
workshops on sales-related topics to professional organizations
including the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Tom Ittelson
Affiliate
Tom Ittelson is an expert on business development, strategic planning, and technology transfer in the life science and technology industries. With over 30 years industry experience, Mr. Ittelson most recently served as Director, Intellectual Property Office at the Whitehead Institute with responsibilities for IP policy, technology licensing, corporate collaborations and corporate sponsored research at this MIT affiliated medical research institute. While there, he negotiated the $18 million RNAi Consortium Agreement with Novartis, Bristol-Myers Squib, Ely Lilly and Academia Sinica for the newly formed Broad Institute at MIT. In addition he negotiated over $8 million in funded scientific collaborations between Whitehead Institute and corporate partners including Affymetrix, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squib, Cellomics, Genomic Collaborative, Genset, Millennium, Merck and Pfizer Inc. Mr. Ittelson is a graduate of Harvard College in Biochemistry and did his graduate work at the Harvard Medical School. His book, Financial Statements, A Step-by-Step Guide to Understanding and Creating Financial Statements, has sold over 100,000 copies.
Mari Anne Snow
Affiliate
Mari Anne Snow is an organizational development and change management professional with over 20 years experience utilizing technology to support non-disruptive change. She is CEO of SophiaThink, a management consulting firm that helps clients develop high performing virtual teams using new technologies. Before SophiaThink, Ms. Snow held senior positions as a business technologist and organizational development professional at the State Street Corporation. She also served as VP, Learning and Development there, and was Director of Training at Uno Restaurant Corp. Ms. Snow is currently an Adjunct Professor at Bentley University and Suffolk University; on the Board of Directors of WEST, a non-profit dedicated to the advancement of women in science and technology; and the resident social media guru for the radio show Positive Business on WPRV AM790.