Welcoming Remarks from Mayor Kevin McCarty

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  Kevin McCarty

  Mayor

  City of Sacramento

Life Sciences & Healthcare Supply, Demand, Development & Design

Meeting the Evolving Space Needs of Tenants, Biotech Firms, Researchers & Health Systems

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  Robert O'Hare

  As a Senior-Level Healthcare Project Architect and System Manager at CommonSpirit Health, I am responsible for the successful delivery of diverse and complex healthcare capital projects across the system. I lead the coordination of all capital development activities—strategic, administrative, and technical—ensuring projects are executed efficiently, cost-effectively, and on schedule. With over 20 years of experience in healthcare architecture and project management, I bring a proven track record of leadership, operational excellence, and attention to detail. My approach is rooted in effective communication and cross-functional collaboration, enabling alignment across stakeholders and ensuring the highest quality outcomes for our patients and communities. I am deeply committed to serving others—supporting high-performing teams and advancing impactful solutions that improve healthcare delivery. Outside of work, I enjoy outdoor activities including skiing, hiking, kayaking, and nature photography.

  CommonSpirit Health

  Market Director - Planning, Design and Construction

  Robert O'Hare

  Market Director - Planning, Design and Construction

  CommonSpirit Health

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  Ken Meyersieck

  Managing Director, Laboratory & Life Sciences

  Transwestern

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  Dipesh Lad

  Industry expert in Facility Development, Construction Project Development, Management, and Consulting in Manufacturing & Life Science. Cross functional team leadership to meet schedule and cost targets on multiple concurrent large and technically complex projects with excellent understanding of existing facility infrastructure, contract and procurement, site selection and planning, real estate planning, capital investment, cost controls, design development and implementation, and ultimate end user goal planning.

  LifeSpace Labs

  CEO

  Dipesh Lad

  CEO

  LifeSpace Labs

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  Eric Peabody

  Eric's expertise in integrating data analysis, Lean process improvements, medical planning, and architecture is founded on a broad range of highly technical projects in both inpatient and outpatient environments from small-scale ambulatory surgery centers up to full-campus hospital redevelopments projects. He's developed a specialty in surgical, interventional imaging, and diagnostic imaging that includes the full spectrum of project development from business case data analysis through construction. Eric pioneered new Lean, integrated project delivery and data analysis techniques across the firm and industry. He is a regular speaker at major industry conferences.

  Taylor Design

  Principal, Project Executive

  Eric Peabody

  Principal, Project Executive

  Taylor Design

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  Aaron Blum

  Project Manager

  PARADIGM

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  Michael Fahrenholz

  Sr. Project Manager

  Turner Construction

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  Kacie McLeod

  Kacie McLeod is a Project Executive at Dome Construction, overseeing operations at our new Sacramento office. With more than 25 years of industry experience, she brings deep expertise across the full project lifecycle and excels at aligning clients, designers, subcontractors, and internal teams to deliver safe, efficient, and high-quality results. Her strong focus on risk management, compliance, and communication ensures every project is positioned for success. Driven by her passion for people, Kacie thrives in collaborative environments and values mentoring others as a core part of her leadership. She builds lasting relationships and approaches challenges with creativity and clarity—believing that her team’s success is the true measure of her own.

  Dome Construction

  Project Executive

  Moderator

  Kacie McLeod

  Project Executive

  Dome Construction

Fostering Innovation & Investment in Life Sciences & Healthcare

The Future Outlook on Discovery & Care in Sacramento

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  Andrew James Brown

  Director, Office of Innovation & Economic Development

  UC Davis & UC Davis Health Ventures

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  Mark Romney

  Mr. Romney joined Blue Rise Ventures as a Senior Vice President in 2023, where he is leading the Business Development efforts focused on strategic industry partner recruitment. He spent the previous 32 years with the University of California, Davis, where he most recently served as the Chief Industry Alliance Officer for the University’s Aggie Square Innovation District. In that role, Mr. Romney was responsible for securing strategic industry partners to collocate with the university in the 1.2M SF initial phase. In addition, Mr. Romney was responsible for the ideation and master planning of Aggie Square, leveraging his experience in innovation district development, industry partner curation and facility master planning. Mr. Romney's expertise in innovation district development has made him a frequently asked guest speaker and panel moderator, and he is currently serving his second term on the Association of University Research Parks AURP National Board of Directors and Executive Council. In his free time, Mr. Romney enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, and traveling.

  Blue Rise Ventures

  SVP

  Mark Romney

  SVP

  Blue Rise Ventures

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  Geeti Silwal

  Geeti grew up in a small, hard-working, steel township in India called Durgapur. As one of four siblings, Geeti attributes her principles of ‘zero waste’ to her humble family upbringing. Her parents have been her greatest inspiration in life. Studying architecture at Jadavpur University in Kolkata and spending her early design years in Delhi, Geeti discovered her intense desire to use the power of good design to positively impact greater number of lives and enable richer daily experiences for the common man. This discovery propelled her to pursue a master’s degree in Urban Design at UC Berkeley. She believes that urban designers and planners need to be strong advocates of healthy cities. Working to develop a vision for a community’s future, Geeti deems it her fundamental responsibility to put in place a framework for a regenerative, urban environment that promotes the health of the ecosystem, the people, and the economy. Geeti loves travelling, exploring new cities and getting to know different cultures. She and her husband often embark upon spontaneous trips across the world.

  Perkins&Will

  Principal, Urban Design

  Geeti Silwal

  Principal, Urban Design

  Perkins&Will

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  Tyler Whaley

  Tyler Whaley has over 20 years of experience delivering comprehensive civil engineering services across a diverse range of projects, with a specialized focus on phased campus projects. His expertise in healthcare infrastructure is based on the patient experience outside the building to create site plans with a diverse stakeholder need. Tyler’s extensive skill set extends below ground with a passion for clean water and resilient infrastructure, with the complexity of constraints that a healthcare campus brings. In Sacramento, Tyler co-authored the Railyards Utility Master Plans and is currently leading the civil engineering design for the new Kaiser Permanente Sacramento Railyards Medical Center. He is a current member and past president of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Golden Gate Branch.

  Kimley-Horn

  Shareholder

  Tyler Whaley

  Shareholder

  Kimley-Horn

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  Nina Armstrong

  Nina Armstrong is a passionate sustainability professional dedicated to improving the built environment's impact on climate and society. With a focus on advancing GBI’s Green Globes and Journey to Net Zero programs, Nina helps building owners, portfolio managers, and facility teams improve the sustainability, health, and resilience of their properties. She brings a deep commitment to fostering sustainable and healthy spaces that benefit both people and the planet, leveraging her experience to drive meaningful change in the green building sector.

  Green Building Initiative (GBI)

  Director, Market Development – Healthcare Lead

  Nina Armstrong

  Director, Market Development – Healthcare Lead

  Green Building Initiative (GBI)

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  Monique Brown

  Monique Brown has spent over 30 years working alongside visionary leaders to launch innovative projects, companies, and initiatives. For the past 15 years, she has been a key architect of the Greater Sacramento region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, driving initiatives that foster innovation, economic growth, and strong community partnerships. As the Knowledge Community Director at Wexford’s Connect Labs Sacramento, Monique manages the execution of a diverse portfolio of programs designed to cultivate a vibrant knowledge community, enhance tenant experiences, and actively engage the local community. Monique is also responsible for developing strategic partnerships, collaborating with cross sector stakeholders, and ensuring that all initiatives align with the Aggie Square Innovation District’s mission of catalyzing innovation that supports economic and community development. Committed to developing next-generation talent, Monique serves as Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) at Sacramento State’s Carlsen Center and Sierra College, integrating entrepreneurial education and resources across disciplines. She also sits on the boards of Growth Factory’s nonprofit, Teach for America Capital Valley, and the Sacramento Metro Chamber. She has a B.A in International Relations with a focus on sustainable development from The American University, is a certified Design your Life Coach, and most importantly, she is a proud mom of five daughters.

  Wexford Science & Technology, Wexford’s Connect Labs Sacramento

  Knowledge Community Director

  Moderator

  Monique Brown

  Knowledge Community Director

  Wexford Science & Technology, Wexford’s Connect Labs Sacramento

Remarks from the Podium

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  Francesco Nigris

  Since 1991, I have served as the President & CEO of Nicos Group Inc., complemented by my role as Vice President at Nicomac, leading Italian Cleanroom system manufacturer, delivering a proven track record in the pharmaceutical and industrial sectors world wid. As President of Nicomac Inc., I spearheaded marketing and sales initiatives for the company's washing and sterilization systems. In 2003, I successfully introduced the first Nicomac Modular Cleanroom System to the U.S. market. Over the years, acting as Nicos project leader I have managed wide-ranging GMP/QA controlled -driven projects, partnering with both large global pharmaceutical corporations and ambitious startups alike. With a background in Law and Economics from the Università degli Studi di Milano, I bring a global perspective alongside a steadfast commitment to technical innovation, regulatory excellence, and industry advancement.

  President & CEO

  Nicos Group

  Francesco Nigris

  Nicos Group

  President & CEO