Phillips named director of Eastern Region office of N.C. Biotechnology Center

Mark Phillips has recently joined the North Carolina Biotechnology Center as director of the Eastern Region office in Greenville.

Phillips succeeds John Chaffee, who is president and chief executive officer of North Carolina's Eastern Region, one of the state's seven regional development organizations.

As regional director, Phillips oversees bio-related economic development activities in the 27-county region covering the northeast quadrant of the state. He is responsible for directing and promoting biotechnology-related growth and development activities.

"I am delighted to become part of this vibrant growth in biotechnology-related jobs statewide," Phillips said. "And eastern North Carolina has a substantial foundation of bioscience institutions from which to build.

"It ranges from the research and health care power of East Carolina University to the solid array of workforce training programs in our community colleges, biomanufacturing and contract research and manufacturing organizations, marine biotechnology installations and our all-important agricultural biotech base."

The Eastern Office serves as the regions' contact to the Biotechnology Center's grant and loan funding programs while working with companies, schools and institutions to strengthen biotechnology research, business, education and workforce training and to identify new opportunities for commercial biotechnology.

Phillips has more than 25 years of experience in the life sciences and telecommunications industries with knowledge in the areas of finance, customer service, human resources, governmental and external relations, as well as marketing and sales. He holds degrees in business administration and accounting from North Carolina Wesleyan College.

Phillips, a native of Roanoke Rapids, is married to the former LuAnne Robinson of Halifax, and has a 10-year-old daughter, Lauren, and a 13-year-old son, Austin.