What's Next For Seattle Life Sciences

As Client Relations Principal Dennis brings a singular focus on client satisfaction. He identifies and assembles multi-disciplinary teams that respond to each project’s unique challenges from design through construction and post occupancy. Dennis draws on his background in design supervision, project management, and furniture procurement to ensure that projects are delivered on time, within budget, and with minimal risk to the client.

As President and CEO, Dr. Alexandre serves as a leading voice for Washington state’s life science industry with the media, elected officials, business leaders, economic developers and other external audiences. She is ultimately responsible for the development and implementation of LSW’s strategic plan to accomplish its organizational mission of “supporting and growing Washington state’s life science industry through advocacy, collaboration and commercialization." Dr. Alexandre serves on several boards, among them the LSW Board of Directors (ex-officio), the Washington State Cancer Research Endowment (CARE) Board, and the University of Washington Industry Advisory Board. Dr. Alexandre is an established business leader and 30-year veteran of the life science and health care industries. Her background includes leadership roles in companies ranging in size from startup to Fortune 500, the National Institutes of Health and prominent research institutions. At the Georgia Cancer Center, Dr. Alexandre led teams of scientists, clinicians and administrators to secure millions of dollars in funding for research, infrastructure and community outreach from biopharmaceutical companies, foundations and government agencies. As president and CEO of the internationally-renowned North Carolina Biotechnology Center from 2002-2007, Dr. Alexandre led the development and execution of a strategic plan for growing the economy statewide through biotechnology. Developed on behalf of the governor, this plan resulted in tens of millions of dollars of new state investment in biotechnology education and workforce training, research, and company creation over the next five years. Dr. Alexandre previously served as assistant director of industrial relations for the National Cancer Institute, facilitating scientific collaborations with industry to accelerate progress in cancer research. She also led corporate affairs for Oncormed, the first commercial provider of cancer-related genetic predisposition and pharmacogenomics testing services, served in senior health policy positions for two U.S. senators, and was the primary liaison between EDS and the Washington, DC health policy community. The recipient of numerous business awards and other honors, Dr. Alexandre has extensive experience serving on corporate, academic and non-profit boards. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Community Health Administration from the University of California at Davis, and her MSPH and DrPH from the UCLA School of Public Health, with a concentration in the financing and delivery of health care.

Bob Cowan is the Director of Facilities for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. He is responsible for day to day Operations, Maintenance and Repair of the beautiful, highly complex, world class, 1.6 million square foot, Fred Hutchinson Campus. The 15 building Campus, located in Sunny Seattle WA, is dedicated to both Cancer Research and Treatment, has over 4,000 staff and boast of 3 Nobel Prize winners amongst the staff. Bob’s been at the “Hutch” over 18 years and during that time has overseen an expansion program of more than a million square feet, helped the Center win over 20 Energy Awards at both local and national level, weathered more inspections than you can count JCAHO, DOH, FDA, AAALAC, CAP, etc.. And even found time to take a 6 month sabbatical where he took his family on an around the World Adventure covering over 40,000 miles. Bob’s a retired Navy Commander; originally from Grosse Ile, Michigan (a small island between Michigan and Canada) He graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor’s in Industrial Engineering and from the University of Florida with a Masters in Civil Engineering. Bob is married to the former Kristina Lindstam of Stockholm, Sweden and has three children Nicklas, 18, Clara, 17 and Hanna 14.