19th Annual BioFlorida Celebration of Biotechnology highlights booming industry and career opportunities in Northeast Florida

April 26, 2024

L to R: Gib Coerper, Alachua Mayor; Mark Glickman, President & CEO, BioFlorida; Seth Lane, Executive Vice President of Real Estate + Development, Concept Companies; TJ Villamil, President of Business Development, FloridaCommerce and President of International Commerce, SelectFlorida, Inc.

Press release from BioFlorida

ALACHUA, Fla. – More than 500 life science professionals gathered at Momentum Labs | Alachua on April 25 for BioFlorida’s 19th Annual Celebration of Biotechnology. This lively community event offered attendees the opportunity to connect with industry leaders, learn about new innovations, and explore the bountiful career opportunities this rapidly growing field provides locally and across the state.

With over 100 interactive exhibits from emerging biotech companies, research institutions, and economic development groups, the celebration highlighted the breadth and momentum of Florida’s life sciences sector.

“BioFlorida’s Celebration of Biotechnology offers the local and statewide community an opportunity to meet an ever-growing number of new biopharmaceutical and medtech companies as well as industry leaders,” says BioFlorida President and CEO, Mark Glickman. “This steady industry growth has been achieved thanks to a collaborative, nurturing environment.”

Brief remarks were also shared by key figures including Seth Lane from Concept Companies; Alachua Mayor Gib Coerper; and FloridaCommerce executive TJ Villamil, who encouraged attendees to leverage state resources that actively support life sciences ventures.

This year’s event also debuted the Talent Table, focused entirely on training programs, academic pathways, internships, and jobs. With demand outpacing supply for many skilled positions, the opportunity to connect directly with employers, educators, and workforce development leaders proved invaluable — especially for young professionals and career changers.

Community events like BioFlorida’s Celebration of Biotechnology allow professionals and prospective talent to plug into this momentum while fueling even faster expansion. For more information on future BioFlorida events, visit www.BioFlorida.com.

It was a pleasure to co-present at the ACTE Leadership Conference in NYC at the United Federation of Teachers, with Tamara Mandell of Biotilies/BACE certification examination for biotechnology, last week, and presented to State Directors and educational leaders across the Northeast about high school and college curricula design and credentialing as this celebratory conference in FL was going on…. Spreading the word and applied learning never stops!