South Dakota Biotech announces annual industry awards
South Dakota Biotech recognized outstanding industry partners with its annual awards this week.
The LIVE and Distinguished Collaborator awards were established in 2014 to recognize individuals or organizations with exceptional dedication to advancing biotechnology.
The LIVE Award recognizes leadership, innovation, vision and entrepreneurship of individuals or organizations contributing to South Dakota Biotech and furthering bioscience to heal, fuel and feed the world.
This year’s recipient, Mel Ustad, has been an integral part of South Dakota Biotech, serving on the board of directors from its inception, currently as president.
“Through his work with SD EPSCoR and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, Mel has been a visionary leader in driving South Dakota’s biotechnology sector forward,” said Joni Ekstrum, executive director of South Dakota Biotech.
“By nurturing talent and facilitating collaborations between universities and industry, Mel and his team have significantly boosted research initiatives with transformative potential for health care, agriculture and other biotech sectors. He’s played an indispensable role in advancing South Dakota’s biotech industry by combining leadership, innovation and strategic vision.”
Ustad’s work as director of SD EPSCoR, or the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, has been instrumental in developing South Dakota’s biotech workforce, she added.
Through initiatives such as STEM education programs, internship opportunities and professional development workshops, EPSCoR has ensured a steady pipeline of well-trained professionals, positioning the state as a hub for biotech talent and emphasizing the importance of developing future leaders in science and technology.
The South Dakota Biotech Distinguished Collaborator Award was established to recognize those advancing biotechnology by building effective, collaborative relationships with academia, government and industry, and contributing to the biotechnology sector in South Dakota.
This year’s Distinguished Collaborator is the South Dakota District Office of the Small Business Administration.
The SBA’s South Dakota District Office “has been crucial in nurturing the state’s biotech ecosystem by providing essential resources and funding opportunities for startups,” Ekstrum said.
“Programs like SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) and STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer) are critical in helping biotech companies at their earliest stages. These programs support innovation, allowing biotech firms to bring breakthrough research and products to market.”
The SBA also provides specialized mentoring and business training that has been invaluable for biotech entrepreneurs in South Dakota. Through SCORE mentorship, Small Business Development Centers and Women’s Business Centers, the SBA has empowered biotech leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary for long-term business success, ensuring biotech companies grow sustainably and strategically, Ekstrum added.
“And through grants like the SBA FAST grant and the SBA Growth Accelerator Fund Competition, South Dakota Biotech has been able to train, mentor and fund customer discovery and business plan activities for tech-based startups across the state,” she said.
The awards were presented Tuesday at South Dakota Biotech’s annual industry summit. The event also serves as the organization’s annual meeting, and new members were elected to the board of directors:
- Katie Pohlson: vice president, Sanford Innovations.
- Kelly Herrmann, associate attorney, Ballard Spahr LLP.
- Jamison Rounds, managing partner, Value Visor.
- Laurie Anderson, vice president of research, South Dakota Mines.
New board officers are:
- Mark Stowers, The Global Bluefish Co., South Dakota First Capital Group — president.
- Jeff Heikes, POET — vice president.
- Tom Johnson, Avera Health — treasurer.
- Kelly Herrmann, Ballard Spahr — secretary.Reelected board members are Christoph Bausch of SAB Bio and Ashley Podhradsky of Dakota State University.