President and CEO Biotechnology Research and Development Corporation
Dr. Brewen became President and Chief Executive Officer of the Biotechnology Research and Development Corporation (BRDC) in Peoria, Illinois in 1988. He was responsible for guiding the start-up research and development consortium through its first years of operation, and has managed the corporation for the past fourteen years. Prior the BRDC, he worked for nine years at Allied Chemical Corporation (now Honeywell International) as Director of Biosciences in the Corporate Research and Development unit in Morristown, New Jersey. Dr. Brewen also worked at the Biology Division of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee from June, 1963 until February, 1979. During his tenure at Oak Ridge he spent a one year sabbatical in Canberra, Australia in 1967 and a six month sabbatical as Visiting Professor, University of California, Berkeley in 1977. Dr. Brewen was educated at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; B.A. 1961 (honors), Ph.D. 1963, in biology with a major in cell biology.
Managing Partner, Midwest Venture Partners, L.L.C.
Mr. Churchwell is Managing Partner of Midwest Venture Partners L.L.C., a venture partnership which specializes in the creation and funding of high-tech companies in the Midwest. In 2001, he led the formation of ARCH Development Fund I, LP, which raised $31 million and invested in 16 seed- and early-stage life sciences and technology companies. Mr. Churchwell was previously President and CEO of ARCH Development Corporation, a subsidiary of the University of Chicago, which commercialized technology from the University and Argonne National Laboratory. Prior to that, Mr. Churchwell was President and CEO of Calgene Fresh, Inc., a 1992 start-up company that produced and marketed the MacGregor FLAVR SAVR tomato, the world's first genetically-modified whole food product. Before starting Calgene Fresh, Mr. Churchwell held several senior management positions at the NutraSweet Company, including Vice President, Sales and legal positions at G.D. Searle & Co., American Hospital Supply Corporation and The Coca-Cola Export Corporation. Mr. Churchwell is a director of a number of start-up companies and charities in the Chicago area. Mr. Churchwell holds a BA degree from DePauw University and J.D. degree from Northwestern University School of Law, and he is also a Graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration.
Regional President, National City Bank, Peoria, Illinois
Douglas S. Stewart is currently Regional President at the Peoria Illinois branch of National City Bank. Prior to joining National City Bank, Mr. Stewart served as President, First of America Bank-Illinois (Peoria), stepping up from his position as Sr. Vice President-Retail Division-First of America Bank-Illinois (Peoria). Mr. Stewart has held an impressive series of banking positions dating back to 1973 where he began his career as a Trainee, Commercial National Bank of Peoria. Mr. Stewart is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the Peoria United Way, Board President of the Country Club of Peoria, Assistant Treasurer of the First Baptist Church of Peoria, a member of the Economic Development Council Board and Executive Committee, on the Children's Home Nominating Committee, Youth Farm Foundation, Peoria Regional Biocollaborative (Secretary-Treasurer), and Chairman, Peoria Civic Federation. Mr. Stewart graduated Magna Cum Laude from Illinois Wesleyan University where he received his B.A. in 1973, and from Bradley University in 1980 where he earned his M.B.A.
CEO, CoreTechs Corporation
Dr. Levy is currently the Chairman of the board and Chief Executive Officer of CoreTechs Corporation, a privately held company that focuses on the development and marketing of early-stage technologies. Prior to joining CoreTechs, he was President of Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Company, the North American subsidiary of JapanŐs third-largest pharmaceutical company. Dr. Levy was also the Vice President of Pharmaceutical Research at Abbott Laboratories. Dr. Levy was a tenured professor of immunology and neurology at Duke University and has authored and co-authored more than 130 publications. Dr. Levy earned a B.A. and a B.S. degree from Yale University, his M.D. from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and his Ph.D. in immunology from Duke University.