RALEIGH: Two accomplished professionals have joined Director Susan Seymour in the BioNetwork Office at the North Carolina Community College System. This office is responsible for oversight of the BioNetwork System, a new economic development initiative for the NCCCS.

Kris Allsbury is the BioNetwork Coordinator and Norman Smit is the Biotechnology Marketing and Recruitment Director. The two will work with Ms. Seymour as the BioNetwork is developed and implemented to help the State of North Carolina grow and nurture this industry.

As BioNetwork Coordinator, Kris Allsbury is primarily responsible for ensuring that the educational needs related to the BioNetwork System are identified, addressed and developed. She will provide oversight of curriculum development and delivery projects, programmatic supervision and coordination of related staff at the five Community College Functional Skill Centers, and other equally important responsibilities.

Allsbury comes to the NCCCS from North Carolina Central University, where she was a clinical instructor in the Graduate Instructional Technology program. She has strong experience in technology, program development, and recruitment. She has been a systems analyst and programmer. She is a Wisconsin native who sees her position at the System Office as coming full circle. One of her earlier jobs was an instructor and department chair at a Wisconsin community college.

Norman Smit is responsible for spreading the word about this exciting initiative. As Marketing and Recruitment Director, he will develop and implement a comprehensive marketing and public relations campaign to bolster the success of this new economic development venture. He will also work to secure more industry support and attract students to this growing industry.

Smit has extensive media experience, including freelancing in the Triad for the last six months. Prior to that he was executive producer at News 24 in Houston. He has also worked as a senior producer at E News in Cape Town, South Africa and has held various positions in print and broadcast news in Johannesburg. He is a native of South Africa.

In August of 2003, Golden LEAF committed up to $60 million to launch a program to train North Carolinians for the emerging biotechnology industry. The community college share of the funding is $8.7 million for two years. This money will be used to set up the BioNetwork System, including funding the BioNetwork Office.

The BioNetwork Office has already begun the process of reviewing the 50 proposals submitted to the North Carolina Community College System from community colleges seeking to be designated as one of five skill centers, for equipment or facilities, or for biotechnology innovations. The process is scheduled for completion by April 7, 2004.

-NCCCS-

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