The 2019 ARCS Foundation Atlanta Annual Meeting and Luncheon was held on Wednesday, May 8, at the Margaret Mitchell House.  During the meeting, the membership approved the proposed Board slate, and Susan McGonigle explained how our partner universities select the scholars for the Atlanta Chapter.   

The luncheon speaker was Maria Thacker-Goethe, named this past February as President and CEO of Georgia Bio. Georgia Bio (www.gabio.org) is the state’s private, non-profit life sciences association. Members include pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies, medical centers, universities and research institutes, government groups and other business organizations involved in the development of life sciences related products and services. The independent, non-profit trade association’s mission is to advance the growth of Georgia’s life sciences industry and foster strategic partnerships that can create a healthier world.

Ms. Thacker-Goethe earned her master’s in public health in health education/communication, and maternal and child health at the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and her Bachelor of Arts in environmental studies from Sweet Briar College. She is a 2009 recipient of the Power 30 Under 30 Award for professional and community excellence. She currently sits on the CJD Foundation Board of Directors and an executive committee member for the Coalition of State Bioscience Institutes. Additionally, Ms. Thacker-Goethe volunteers with the Junior League of Atlanta co-chairing the La Amistad Estrellitas program which works to empower Latina teens; she has volunteered with this program for 9 years now.

She spoke on several of Georgia Bio’s initiatives, including building a STEM student pipeline that builds Georgia’s future biotech workforce, and Georgia Bio’s efforts to bring more biotech and life science companies to Georgia. Of particular interest was the upcoming Georgia Bio Innovation Summit, scheduled for October 2019, that will feature discussions on the eradication of smallpox.

The delicious box lunch was provided by member Mary Hataway’s Soiree Catering.  Thanks to Caroline Moise and her team for planning the annual meeting.