Craig Gravitz, Director, Project Accelerator Transition Innovation Office (PATIO), ARPA-H

Craig Gravitz is designing and implementing the transition and commercial strategy for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). Prior to joining ARPA-H, Mr. Gravitz launched and ran a research and development program at the Defense Logistics Agency. That program was inspired by DARPA, but also by private sector innovation models like design thinking and lean start up. Using those models, he developed an effective framework to translate work into real world environments: real people used those innovations. He is a licensed attorney and has previously serviced as a contracting officer.

Nicole G. Small serves as chief executive officer of LH Holdings, Inc. and president of the Lyda Hill Foundation, related entities which use their resources to fund game-changing advances in science and nature, empower nonprofits, and to improve the local communities of greatest importance to the organizations’ founder, Miss Lyda Hill. In these roles since early 2014, Ms. Small is responsible for overseeing the strategic direction of both entities, including their financial and investment activities, as well as their philanthropic initiatives. From 2011 through 2013, Ms. Small served as the inaugural Eugene McDermott Chief Executive Officer of Dallas’ Perot Museum of Nature and Science. Ms. Small joined the Dallas Museum of Natural History in 2001, having first served as a member of the Museum’s expansion team from 2001 until she was named CEO in April 2002. In 2006, Ms. Small spearheaded the merger of the city’s three, then existing nature, science, and childrens museums (the Dallas’ Museum of Natural History, The Science Place and the Children’s Museum), into a sole museum which later became the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Victory Park. Ms. Small worked with the Board, the community and the Museum team to raise over $200 million, which included achieving their $185 million fundraising goal – and provided for the site acquisition, exhibition planning and design, construction of the new building, education programs, and an endowment – more than a full year before the Museum’s planned opening. These achievements, along with many others, earned the Perot Museum widespread acclaim both for its innovative design and programming excellence. Earlier in her career, Ms. Small held positions with several technology, venture capital and consulting firms, including serving as the founder and CEO of an internet startup, an entrepreneur-in-residence at a California-based business incubator, and as an analyst with McKinsey & Company. Ms. Small received an undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. She is a member of the Dallas Assembly, YPO, Charter 100, and International Women’s Forum. She serves on the Boards of the A.H. Belo Corporation, Southwestern Medical Foundation, Communities Foundation of Texas, and on the strategic planning committee for The Hockaday School in Dallas. Ms. Small resides in Dallas with her husband, two daughters, and a dog

Hubert Zajicek, MD, MBA, is CEO & Co-founder of Health Wildcatters, a top ranked healthcare

accelerator and fund in Dallas, TX. Health Wildcatters provides mentorship, capital and

guidance to up to 12 healthcare related startups during an intensive 3 month program, annually.

The fund has invested in 118 healthcare startups, which have attracted over $350M in capital in

12 years. Dr. Zajicek has extensive experience with startups and is an active speaker, panelist

and thought leader on healthcare startups, entrepreneurship, financing & healthcare. He serves

as advisor, mentor and board member on various organizations and startup companies.

Prior to Health Wildcatters, he was managing director – medical technology at NTEC (North

Texas Enterprise Center), where he ran what eventually became the Southwest’s largest

medtech investment conference, showcasing startups that attracted in excess of $300M. Prior,

he was on faculty at UT Southwestern, as an NIH funded principal investigator, in the

Departments of Internal Medicine and Cell Biology. He has an MD from the University of Vienna

and an MBA from SMU. He lives in Dallas with his wife, Beth McNally Zajicek, MD and two

daughters.

Heidi joined CPRIT in June 2009 as the chief operating officer. In this role, she also served as the agency’s chief financial officer.

Heidi has more than 30 years’ experience working for the state. Prior to joining CPRIT, she served as a senior budget advisor, special assistant, and governor’s advisor on public health in the Office of Governor Rick Perry. She has also worked at the Legislative Budget Board and the IC2 Institute at The University of Texas at Austin.

A native Austinite, Heidi received a B.A. in Political Science from Yale University and a Master of Public Affairs from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin.

Gabby is the Director of Business Operations & Strategy and Site Head for BioLabs Pegasus Park, the

premier network of shared lab and office facilities located in key innovation clusters. As Director, she is

responsible for recruiting member companies, fostering relationships, and building the biotech

community in North Texas. Prior to BioLabs, Gabby was the Lead Scientist in the Biotech group at NCH

Corporation. There she led the product development team for bioaugmentation and probiotic products,

from ideation to commercialization. She holds 8 US patents and has another 7 patents pending. Gabby

holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Texas A&M University where she was author on nearly 50 peer-

reviewed research publications.

Kurt’s professional engineering career spans over 40 years. His expertise includes structural engineering design for Mission Critical Facilities such as Data Centers, Health Care Facilities such as Hospitals and Clinics and Life Sciences Facilities such as Biopharmaceutical Pilot Plants and Production Facilities around the United States and the World. His area of expertise is in designing buildings to be occupable after natural disasters including Tornados, Hurricanes and Earthquakes. He has been the structural engineer of record for conventional “fixed Base Buildings” ranging from 1-23 stories, “Base Isolated Buildings” ranging from 1-5 stories, and the retrofit and new construction of buildings incorporating Fluid Viscous Dampers ranging from 1-22 stories. He has published numerous papers on passive energy dissipation and presented the findings at various conventions in Boston, San Francisco and Milan.

For over 23 years as the Founding Principal at PARADIGM Structural Engineers, Kurt spends most of his time developing new leaders at PARADIGM and mentoring staff in Chicago and San Francisco.

Ese Aihie is an Entrepreneur and CRE industry expert with over 15 years in real estate. Serves as

President for Admiral Legacy Companies which includes Venture X Castle Hills, a premium flexible

office space provider and Founder/CEO for Work Innovators, a media production and marketing

company focused on amplifying the voice of businesses and communities. Current/Past experience

includes, office/collaborative work space, single –family development, mixed-use development, P3,

land procurement, community outreach, contract negotiations, business development.

Ese transitioned into real estate full-time after an 18 years career in Workforce Mgt. & Technology

Management in Fortune 100 organizations. My experience with real-estate, passion for people, and

community led me to the commercial real estate space pod i play in today. Enriching people’s lives

through communities; by creating environments and experiences is critical to how she approaches the

projects or investments she works on.

She is actively involved in and understands the value of communities, and the different neighborhood

dynamics. Her community involvement proves her to be not just a real estate professional, but also

trusted advisor and partner. She is known for her integrity and equanimity in difficult situations. She is

an active member of the nonprofit Urban Land Institute (ULI) as a Council & Facilitator of UrbanPlan for

Education Committee. An advocate for small businesses serves on several boards and Leadership

Councils including the Board of Directors at The Colony Chamber of Commerce, the National Small

Business Association (NSBA) Leadership Council, The Scott Murray Scholarship Fund, and Texas Real

Estate Council.(TREC)

Master’s in public management from University of Texas Dallas and bachelor's degree in law (BL)

Faith, Family and Fun-Travel are key areas of her non-work life. Married to her life and business partner

Andrew and they have 3kids together.

Sharina Perry is an entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience establishing and running national

businesses. Sharina is the founder and inventor of Utopia Plastix, a plant-based alternative to petroleum-

based polymers. Sharina is also the originator and developer of The Utopia Model, a sustainable

ecosystem business model. She is well regarded as an innovator, strategist, and unconventional thinker.

She is often praised for her exceptional capacity to foster creative thinking, effective execution, and

deliberate leadership.

Aside from her successful career, Sharina holds a significant number of leadership, management, and

business development certifications. Sharina holds an expert certification in Sustainable Strategies and

Circular Economics. Her education includes, but is not limited to, The University of Oklahoma and

Cambridge Judge Business School. Sharina also owns registered global patents and trademarks.

Sharina serves on the Oklahoma Governors Minority Business Council as chair of the Business

Engagement Committee. Sharina was also a key committee member for the initiative leading to the

passage of HB 2365; the first Supplier Diversity Program within the state of Oklahoma focused on aiding

in the advancement of minority and underserved small business owners.

In 2023, Sharina was appointed to the Oklahoma District Export Council by the US Secretary of

Commerce. Sharina serves as the Chair on the Advisory Board of the University of Oklahoma Price

College of Business Multicultural Business Program. She also serves on the Executive Board for Hough

Ear Institute.

Sharina was instrumental in contributing her knowledge, insights, and expertise when the City of

Oklahoma City convened community leaders and stakeholders when creating an economic resilience and

recovery plan post Covid.

Sharina is a founding STEM committee member for the Oklahoma City Innovation District. Sharina led the

drafting of the resolution passed unanimously by the OKC Council to bring Public, Private and

Educational Institutions together to address STEM and Workforce Development within the historically

black community on the northeast side of Oklahoma City.

Throughout her illustrious career, Sharina has received numerous awards and accolades and has been

recognized worldwide. Sharina was listed as Forbes's Top 10 Women to Watch in 2023 (globally).

Sharina was also featured in September 2023 on the iconic Nasdaq Billboard in NYC Times Square as

the Inventor of the Year.

Shaina is a TEDx and International Keynote Speaker. Sharina has also been awarded:

2025 Innovation Impact Award

2025 Induction into the prestigious Enterprising Women Hall of Fame

2025 Business Innovator of the Year by IAOTP (International Association of Top Professionals)

2024 Top Sustainable Strategies and Circular Economics Expert

2024 Global Excellence Award

2024 Life Science Award Finalist New Jersey

2024 Black Leaders Worldwide Women to Watch Honoree

2023 & 2024 Most Innovative Plastic Alternative CEO

2023 Oklahoma Innovator of the Year

2023 Metro’s Most Influential

2023 Distinguished Service Visionary Award

2021 Vanguard Award for Environmental Excellence

2022 & 2023 Oklahoma’s Most Powerful and Innovative Women

2022 Most Influential Young Professionals

2022 Businesswoman of the Year

2023 Woman of the Year

2022 Supreme Excellence Dignitary Award

2022 Brainz 500 Global Influential Leaders

2023 Top Inventor of the Year by the International Association of Top Professionals

2022 Top 5 Climate and Green Influencers

2023 Black Corporate Leader in Climate and Clean Tech

2022 Featured as an Eco-Hero by Woman's Day Magazine