Dr. Will Canestaro is a venture capitalist, health economist and meta-epidemiologist with a demonstrated history of working in the biotechnology industry. He manages the Foundation’s biotech and engineering VC investment portfolio. Through WRF, Dr. Canestaro has made 25 investments in 19 Washington-based companies.

Dr. Canestaro also teaches courses at the UW School of Business and School of Pharmacy on Health Innovation and Meta-Analytic methods, respectively.

Dr. Canestaro earned his doctorate from the University of Washington’s School of Pharmacy Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research and Policy Program. He received an M.Sc. in medical anthropology from Oxford University and an A.B. in medical sociology from Dartmouth College.

As President & CEO of Life Science Washington (LSW), Marc sets the strategic direction, guides policy priorities, and directs business operations to ensure our members have the talent, investment, and partnerships needed to sustain the industry’s robust growth and solidify Washington state’s reputation as one of the top life science clusters in the nation. Marc also serves as the Chair of the Life Science Washington Institute, which is an affiliated non-profit focused on supporting life science entrepreneurs and growing start-up companies in Washington.

Before taking the helm as President & CEO, Marc served as Vice President, Public Policy & External Affairs for LSW. Prior to joining Life Science Washington, he served as Director of Policy & External Affairs for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), where he was actively involved in creating and advocating for several statewide bioscience initiatives including the Life Sciences Discovery Fund. He was also deeply involved in a range of PNNL’s philanthropic science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education partnerships and science education initiatives. Prior to moving to Washington state, Marc held a variety of policy and consulting positions in Washington, D.C.

Marc has served on several gubernatorial task forces including the Washington Clean Energy Leadership Council and the Life Science & Global Health Advisory Council. His board service includes a number of statewide trade associations, including Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA) and the Washington Clean Technology Alliance (WCTA).

Marc loves playing tennis, waterskiing, mountain biking, and Oregon Pinot Noir.

With over twenty years of experience in architectural design and project management, Greg is facile with interdisciplinary coordination, a clear communicator, and a natural leader. He has led many projects focused on scientific discovery with an emphasis on incorporating sustainable design, creating collaborative multidisciplinary spaces for learning and research, and building highly technical environments for some of the most advanced scientific instruments in the world.

Passionate about sustainable design, Greg helped HDR become a founding member of the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories Northern California Chapter and presented at a recent I2SL National Conference.

Jay recently started his 4 th decade in the construction industry. He is currently a Vice President at Howard S Wright, A Balfour Beatty Company focused on leading the Life Science and Healthcare market sectors. He has grown and honed his industry knowledge, skills, and expertise by working in all operational roles throughout his career, from field work, estimating/preconstruction, project management, business unit leader, and company COO. Jay has an extensive history of successfully leading teams on large complex projects with multiple stakeholders. Many of Jay’s projects have included early team engagement, starting at project concept and carrying through project delivery, taking the ideas and turning them into reality. This has created Jay’s passion in developing high cross-functioning teams that are focused on delivering on the project and stakeholders’ goals.

Chris Angus joined Unico Properties with over 20 years of industry experience. His past responsibilities have included leading preconstruction efforts, supporting constructability analysis, systems selection and integration, sustainability, cost and scheduling feedback. He has worked on a variety of projects including commercial, educational, hospitality, institutional, non-profit and residential projects at all levels of design and construction.

Prior to joining our team, Chris worked with Sellen Construction overseeing Preconstruction Services. He has also worked for an international project management and cost control firm on a wide range of project types and sizes.

Jeff West (he, him, his) is Fred Hutch’s vice president of Facilities & Campus

Operations. West manages and provides overall leadership for Fred Hutch

operations in Facilities Planning& Administration, Facilities Engineering,

Environmental Health & Safety and General Operational Services.

West is responsible for developing, executing and monitoring strategic plans and

programs in operational areas reporting into him. He also advises the chief

administrative officer on matters relating to all areas of the organization in

support of the business goals and mission of Fred Hutch.

Before coming to Fred Hutch in 2022, West was the vice president of Real Estate

Strategy and Operations at Providence St. Joseph Health and oversaw the Real

Estate, Facilities, Construction and Environmental Services departments in

California. His work in real estate development and management has sent him up

and down the West Coast, from Portland, where he brought the country’s first

LEED Urban District online, to Southern California, where he integrated regional

real estate and construction teams for Providence into the broader health

system

As Managing Director, William is responsible for investment activities throughout the Pacific Northwest. He currently oversees new acquisitions, recapitalizations, and dispositions. Additionally, he manages a portfolio of assets in the firm’s development division, including land acquisition, feasibility, entitlement, construction, leasing, and eventual disposition.

Before joining URG, William spent over a decade at Talon Private Capital, where he was involved in several million square feet of acquisitions and dispositions. He managed a 2.7 million square foot portfolio of 13 Seattle-area properties, led the largest receivership in Washington state history, and successfully developed Kirkland Urban—a 750,000-square-foot mixed-use project later sold to Google. Prior to Talon, he spent five years at Metzler Real Estate, managing assets across the U.S. He also held an internship at Schnitzer West and worked in investment banking for four years before pursuing his MBA.

William earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Accounting from Claremont McKenna College and an MBA with a concentration in Real Estate from Columbia Business School. He is an active Urban Land Institute (ULI) member, serving on the Urban Development Mixed Use Council and the National Suburban Development/Redevelopment Council. He also serves on the Academy of Precision Learning Board of Directors.

Arthur Furukawa is a Principal at Boulder Associates in Seattle who has practiced architecture in the

Pacific Northwest for more than 30 years. Arthur has expertise in the planning, design, and delivery

of numerous science & technology subdisciplines including labs for general research &

development, tissue culture, preclinical, robotics, and process development. Arthur has worked

directly for private sector clients as well as for developers and landlords seeking to provide top shelf

space for their science & technology tenants. Whatever the specific project, Arthur brings the same

set of core values to the table. These include listening carefully to clients to understand what they

need while internalizing their definition of a successful project. Second, Arthur believes that the best

project outcomes result from collaborative teams where everyone is empowered to voice their

opinion and contribute their expertise to the greater good. Lastly, Arthur keeps the big picture in mind

and a calm demeanor while piloting projects through their inevitable uncertainties and rough spots.

Steve Brooks, President of UMC, brings his expertise as a mechanical engineer with over 24 years of experience to the forefront of the life sciences industry. Fueled by his unwavering passion, creativity, and curiosity related to design, building, and project efficiency, Steve constantly seeks innovative approaches to drive progress. Throughout his notable career, he has honed his skills primarily in the biotech design realm, spearheading more than 10,000 biotech renovation and retrofit projects. From the very start of his professional journey, Steve has been an integral part of the Fred Hutch Cancer Center, serving as a steadfast partner in designing and constructing their high-performance, cutting-edge life sciences facilities. His extensive involvement with Fred Hutch and other life sciences and biotech research centers has granted him a profound understanding of the industry's demands and complexities. Steve's expertise spans across various divisions of the UMC business, including engineering, special projects, major projects, industrial, and virtual construction/BIM. This comprehensive grasp of the design-build construction industry empowers him to navigate its intricacies and adapt to diverse challenges with ease. Driven by a strong belief in giving back, Steve is committed to sharing his vast knowledge with aspiring professionals. As a regular speaker at industry events and a guest instructor for both Washington State University's construction management program and Seattle University's mechanical engineering program, he imparts invaluable insights gained throughout his career. Steve holds a mechanical engineering degree from Seattle University and proudly hails from Spokane. Beyond his professional pursuits, he finds joy in his role as a devoted husband and father to two adorable daughters.

Margaret McCormick, PhD, serves as executive director and chief operating officer of Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason (BRI) and also as vice president of research for Virginia Mason Medical Center. Dr. McCormick joined BRI in 2017 and previously served as BRI’s chief administrative officer, with direct oversight of operational functions including human resources, finance, facilities and safety.

Over the past two decades, Dr. McCormick’s work has centered on launching, managing and investing in life science companies, frequently at the start-up level. Most recently, she served as CEO of Matrix Genetics, an industrial biotechnology company, spun out of Targeted Growth, Inc. Prior to that role, she held positions as chief operations officer at Targeted Growth, as a principal at Integra Ventures, as a consultant for McKinsey & Company and as Director of Business Development for the biomedical incubator and technology investment fund at Baylor College of Medicine.

Dr. McCormick received a PhD in biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Bachelor’s of Science from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Recently, she served as a trustee for both the Pacific Northwest Research Institute and the Life Science Discovery Fund Authority and is currently the Vice Chair and member of the Executive Committee of the Life Sciences Washington board.

Brian Surratt is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Greater Seattle Partners (GSP), a public/private partnership that advances inclusive economic growth and competitiveness for the Puget Sound region. The GSP team focuses on attracting new investment and talent, promoting international trade and growing existing industry clusters to create and sustain opportunity and prosperity for everyone in the Greater Seattle region.

Previously, Brian was a vice president of community relations in the Seattle office of Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc., the leading urban real estate investment trust focused on building collaborative life science and technology campuses in the nation’s most dynamic innovation centers. He also served in various economic development leadership roles during his time with the city of Seattle and oversaw efforts that spanned workforce development, manufacturing growth, foreign-direct investment and anti-displacement strategies. He negotiated the city’s $1.2 billion development agreement to build Climate Pledge Arena and served as the policy lead in Seattle’s historic efforts as the first major city in the United States to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour.

Brian serves in a range of community leadership roles as well. He is a trustee for the Seattle Colleges District and commissioner for the Washington State Housing Finance Commission and serves on the boards for several prominent regional organizations, including FareStart, William D. Ruckelshaus Center, and the Seattle Center Foundation.

Jimmy brings more than 15 years of experience in construction project management to his role at JTM. As Critical Environments Division Manager, he collaborates closely with clients, building rapport and earning trust necessary to deliver safe, efficient, and quality projects from preconstruction through completion—on schedule and on budget. Jimmy’s commitment to communication, along with his organizational skills and attention to detail, allows him to proactively identify challenges and work through solutions both in the design phase and in the field.

Jimmy grew up in Vancouver, WA, attended the University of Washington, and has loved living in the area ever since graduating. On the weekend, there’s a good chance he’s hitting the slopes or hitting the links, depending on the season. Fun fact: Jimmy played trumpet in the Seattle Sounders’ Marching Band for three years.

I am an accomplished, well-rounded executive with over 37-years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry creating significant and enduring strategic, operational and financial value in many diverse roles and responsibilities within GSK, Seagen, and Pfizer. I have a strong background in R&D with extensive experience in both early discovery and late-stage drug development. In addition, I have commercial experience in US Pharma phase IIIb/IV development, marketing and pharmacoeconomics programs in support of CV and oncology franchises. For the last 15 years I have demonstrated value in the real estate and facilities discipline by helping GSK, Seagen, and Pfizer realize financial benefit in how they may use their real estate and workplace services to lower costs, raise capital and increase productivity.

During my career, I have built relationships and offered strategic advice across multiple disciplines and pharmaceutical businesses in drug discovery, project management, scientific operations, drug development, commercial sales & marketing and real estate & facilities. This strategic advice extends outside the pharma experience to retail, heavy industry, transportation and non-profits.

I bring extensive leadership experience in the areas of strategy, operations, project planning and management, core business support services, strategic portfolio planning & asset management, real estate development/projects, and transformation.

Shanna Braga joined ISB as Director of Facilities and Operations in 2021, and she manages ISB’s facility, real estate transactions, administrative and laboratory operations, environmental health and safety, and procurement.

Shanna has worked in the real estate field for 17 years, and has managed healthcare facilities with a focus on life science buildings with laboratory facilities. She was part of managing the construction and installation of a high-end operating room in 2019, and her experience includes managing several state-of-the-art buildings in Seattle’s South Lake Union and Fremont neighborhoods. She focused on asset management, lease administration, contract negotiations, budgeting, building systems, and project management.

Shanna’s professional focus is on laboratory facilities, tenant relationships, construction management, interpersonal skills, and she’s currently an active participation in Real Estate Marketing and Networking events. She’s been involved in Seattle BOMA, CREW, BISNOW, and is a Washington State Notary.

Shanna is born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. She has been married to her husband, Don, for 20 years. They are proud parents to two daughters, Katelynn and Madelynn. Their special fur baby is dog Casper who brings joy and love to their family.

Internationally recognized for award-winning buildings and campuses,

Robert Bruckner has the creative bandwidth to see transformative

possibility at the inception of strategic planning and the depth to deliver this

vision in composition and detail. Articulate and passionate, he is equally at

ease with research, administration and development leadership.

Robert established Aedas Seattle in 2008, and now serves on the Aedas

International Board with over 40 years of experience in private and

institutional research facility master planning, programming and design.

Recent clients include Seattle Children's Research, Alexandria Real Estate

Equities, Cajal Neuroscience, Bonum Therapeutics and Celgene.

Aedas Seattle is a comprehensive design practice focused on the life

sciences; with transformative program, buildings, and campuses for the

private and institutional pioneers of our research community. With the belief

that a global design practice be embedded in the communities in which

it serves, Aedas Seattle is supported by one of the most creative design

practices in the world, where we deliver global expertise with the innate

knowledge and understanding of our local culture.

Brian Weed is a seasoned executive with nearly 20 years of experience in life sciences, cleanrooms, and critical environments. As VP of Critical and Controlled Environmental Services at GDI Ainsworth, he leads programs for the Life Science and Data Center sectors, showcasing his expertise in developing and implementing effective contamination control strategies in a holistic approach.

Previously, he was Chief Revenue Officer at AES Clean Technology and held leadership roles at Controlled Contamination Services and Bioquell Inc. (now Ecolab), where he specialized in integrated facility services, decontamination and growth strategy.

Brian holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Villanova University. Outside of work, he has served as an EMT and volunteer leader for over 20 years.

Dr. Thomas J. Lynch Jr. is a world-renowned scientist, highly respected oncologist and successful leader of National Cancer Institute-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers . As president and director of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Dr. Lynch sets the strategic direction of the center, oversees centerwide initiatives and represents Fred Hutch’s interests to major partners and governmental bodies. He also directs the Fred Hutch/University of Washington/Seattle Children's Cancer Consortium and is principal investigator of its Cancer Center Support Grant. Before taking over as Fred Hutch’s sixth president in February 2020, Dr. Lynch was most recently chief scientific officer of Bristol-Myers Squibb. Prior to that he held leadership roles as CEO of Massachusetts General Physicians Organization, director of Yale Cancer Center, physician-in-chief at Yale’s Smilow Cancer Hospital, chief of hematology-oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Lynch is a member of the American Association for Cancer Research, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer. Earlier in his career he was part of the first research team to discover how targeted therapies could dramatically change outcomes for lung cancer patients with mutations in the EGFR, or epidermal growth factor receptor, gene.

Brad Hinthorne is a Principal with the 120-person Seattle office of leading global architecture and design firm Perkins+Will. Brad brings nearly three decades of experience with complex urban projects, including leadership roles on master planning, programming and design efforts for a diversity of public and private clients across a variety of practice areas including healthcare, higher education, corporate, commercial and civic. In addition to his management and leadership responsibilities, Brad heads Perkins+Will’s healthcare practice in Seattle, including serving as Managing Principal for the Swedish First Hill Expansion, one of the largest healthcare expansion projects in the country.