Sector Spotlights events feature industry leaders who will share the latest in innovation and collaboration, while providing partnership opportunities through in-person connections.
Lunch & Learn
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
The Jackson Laboratory’s Charles E. Hewett Center
21 Kingsland Crossing, Ellsworth, ME 04605
Members-only event / No cost / Lunch provided
The life sciences industry is one of the key economic pillars in Maine, with increasing importance in recent years. Life science jobs in Maine grew at a faster pace than all New England states during the last 5 years. Average annual income for jobs in this sector is $108,741.
Join us to learn about the advantages and challenges for Maine companies in this dynamic industry, top international markets, and global R&D partnerships, as well as the strategy to grow Maine’s life sciences sector.
Event Schedule
11:30 – Networking
12:00 – Panel Discussion: Developing International Life Science Markets from Maine’s Rural Communities
12:45 – Q&A
1:00 – Networking
2:00 – Tour of The Jackson Laboratory’s Charles E. Hewett Center
The state-of-the-art Ellsworth facility, which opened in late 2018, is the only one of its kind in the world. It is the result of over nine decades of unmatched experience and leadership in breeding and caring for laboratory mice and provides the global biomedical research community with increased access to JAX® Mice with opportunistic- and pathogen-free health status.
Networking
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
4:00 – 6:00 PM
Woodlawn
21 Black House Drive. Ellsworth, ME 04605
No cost to attend
We’re pleased to sponsor this On The Road With Mainebiz networking event.
Join us to learn about the latest trends, initiatives, and developments happening in the Ellsworth business community.
There is no cost to attend. Space is limited. Please register in advance.
We hope to see you there!
Meet Our Lunch & Learn Speakers
Michael Ellis, Ph.D., Senior Director of Research & Development, Jackson Laboratory (JAX)
Michael Ellis, Ph.D. is the Senior Director of Research & Development at the Jackson Laboratory (JAX), where he leads an extensive portfolio of new product and technology development, along with process improvement initiatives. His role encompasses both internal projects at JAX and collaborations with a global network of partners. Dr. Ellis has been instrumental in bringing innovative products to market, including humanized mice, human antibody models, and digital mouse cages utilizing machine vision technology. Before joining JAX, he held progressively senior roles in the medical devices industry, managing global business growth and spearheading the development and commercialization of advanced medical electronic implants. His work spanned a range of cutting-edge technologies, from cochlear implants to implantable cardioverter defibrillators and “smart grafts.” Dr. Ellis holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering. He began his career developing algorithms for the automated detection and classification of sub-wavelength lesions in ultrasound imaging systems.
Leo Waterston, Program Director, FocusMaine
Leo Waterston serves as FocusMaine’s Program Director, working closely with statewide partners to oversee programs, grants, and initiatives to grow Maine’s food economy and bioeconomy, and a thriving workforce to support them.
Leo brings diverse experience within healthcare, scientific research, and public health settings to his work in economic development. Prior to joining FocusMaine in early 2022, Leo served as the Program Director for the Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CORE) at Maine Medical Center Research Institute (now MaineHealth Institute for Research). While in that role, Leo also served for 5 years as the Project Director for the Maine Lung Cancer Coalition, a grant-funded, statewide, multi-sector initiative focused on reducing the burden of lung cancer in Maine. Prior to coming to Maine, Leo held various roles at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
Leo holds a Master’s degree in clinical psychology from Fordham University and a Bachelor’s degree from Clark University. Leo is a graduate of Leadership Maine (Damariscotta Class). He currently serves as Vice President on the Board of the Maine Public Health Association and is on the Steering Committee of SEA Maine (Seafood Economic Accelerator for Maine).