Catalyst for Growth – AZ Bio moves forward with new CEO and an aggressive agenda  Joan Koerber-Walker announced as CEO of the Arizona BioIndustry Association  Scottsdale Arizona  March 23, 2011  The Arizona BioIndustry Association, the unified voice of Arizona’s growing bioscience industry, today announced the hiring of Joan Koerber-Walker who joins the state-wide organization as President and CEO of AZBio effective immediately. “As its new leader, Joan Koerber-Walker brings a fresh perspective, leadership and the experience needed to move our organization forward faster” shared Christine McAuliffe, AZBio Board Chair and shareholder at Polsinelli and Shughart in Phoenix. “The board was in unanimous agreement that Joan has the right combination of experience, skills and talent needed to support our organization and our members as together we grow.”  With a mission to make Arizona a place where bioscience organizations can grow and succeed, AZBio is comprised of member organizations in business, research and education, economic development, government, and other professions involved in the biosciences. AZBio provides a forum for the bioscience community to join together with a unified voice, educating policy makers and the public, influencing public policy, and advancing the economic interests of individual organizations as well as the sector as a whole. By enabling private sector innovation, collaborating with Arizona’s universities and research institutions, and supporting economic growth throughout the state, AZBio provides the catalyst for growth of Arizona’s bioindustry organizations and through them the opportunity for more high quality job opportunities for Arizonans.  No stranger in Arizona’s leadership community, Koerber-Walker became active in Arizona’s business community in 2002, when she left a successful career as an executive at Avnet, Inc. to found CorePurpose, Inc. where she continues to serve as Chairman. For the past nine years she has been active in the community, working with businesses of all sizes to create focused business strategies and resource networks required to execute successfully. In addition to active participation in her own company and as an Executive in Residence at Callaman Ventures, her leadership experience includes past service as a board member and treasurer for RiboMed Biotechnologies, Inc., two years as CEO of the Arizona Small Business Association, on the Board of Trustees of the NSBA in Washington D.C., Chairman of the Advisory Board to Parenting Arizona, the state’s largest parent education and child abuse prevention organization, service on the Board of Directors of the Arizona Technology Council and as Chairman of the Opportunity Through Entrepreneurship Foundation – the host organization for the Arizona Entrepreneurship Conferences which connect Arizona’s entrepreneurial and investor communities with each other and with nationally recognized thought leaders.  “We welcome Joan’s energy and leadership to AZBio” Nina Ossanna, Ph.D., Director, Business Development at the BIO5 Institute, immediate past Chair of AZBio and Chair of the Search Committee, “With her leadership, we look forward to expanding AZBio’s programs that support our member organizations to grow and thrive here in Arizona.”  “Throughout my career, I have been lucky enough to have the opportunity to work with great people and great organizations to achieve goals that others might have thought were difficult or even impossible. Together with the team at AZBio – our employees, our members, and our community partners - we can accelerate the growth of Arizona’s biosciences community and our overall economy.” Koerber-Walker stated. “Opportunity begins with conversations and builds with action. That’s why I am looking forward to asking our biosciences community what they need to get the job done and with their help and support using AZBio as a catalyst to help them make things happen.”  “Our search committee was fortunate in having excellent, well-qualified candidates and finding Joan in that mix,” shared Jack Dean, PhD, Special Advisor, sanofi-aventis and an AZBio Board Member who was instrumental in the search and selection process. “Joan brings to us great experience working with large and small business throughout our state and a passion for success. I anticipate that Joan will re-energize Arizona’s bioindustry and help create a culture that allows us to be recognized for our contribution to biotechnology and translational medicine.”  AZBio will be hosting a number of great events where members of the community can connect, join the conversation and engage including the AZBio Expo, May 6, 2011 at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass. To learn more visit www.AZBio.org. For article reprints, Please visit our contact page and include the name of the article desired.