Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/110509
Eva A. Berkes, MD, FAAAAI Quorum Innovations is an early stage biotechnology company in Sarasota whose mission is discovery and commercialization of critical need anti-biofilm therapeutics. Education: B.A. with Honors in English and Biology, Williams College; M.D., University of Florida; Fellowship in Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, California Inspiration: Our many patients have suffered with common medical issues involving biofilm, (including chronic bronchitis, sinusitis, recurrent ear infections and chronic wounds) without an FDA-approved medication available in the market. My husband, also a physician, and I found that the pharmaceutical industry seemed under-informed and slow to move on developing biofilm therapeutics. We decided to take up the challenge to create therapies to start filling the anti-biofilm treatment void. Career goals: Biofilm disease kills almost as many people in this country every year as cancer. Quorum Innovations will design anti-biofilm products which will be available in the next 12-18 months to the health care consumer, as well as through the international pharmaceutical armamentarium in the next decade. Chief Scientific Officer and Vice President of Research and Development Quorum Innovations LLC www.quoruminnovations.com Favorite part of the job: Knowing something that no one else knows in the world. This is called discovery. Mark L. Witsaman Globe Wireless is the world���s leading provider of total solutions in the field of communications, operational and IT solutions to the maritime industry. Headquartered in Palm Bay, Globe Wireless serves more than 550 ship operators with more than 8,000 ships using our products and services. Education: B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Purdue University; M.A. in Management, Nazareth College Inspiration: Ever since my first science class in grade school when I was introduced to electricity, I was hooked and built several Heathkits (ham radios, amplifiers and other hobbyist electronics). From an early age I wanted to become an electrical engineer and work for Heathkit, which is exactly what I did. Biggest challenge: Technology has to have a commercial application. There are many examples where the superior technology did not win out in the marketplace. The challenge is to make sure that you are using technology to solve a commercial problem and not providing a technical solution in search of a problem. EVP & CTO Globe Wireless www.globewireless.com Career goals: To continue to come up with innovative solutions for the maritime industry. Favorite quote: ���Are you here with the solution or part of the problem.��� In my view, it does no good to point out faults unless you have a better idea to solve them. florida.HIGH.TECH 2013 fht_faces_2013.indd 51 51 2/12/13 1:28 PM