Meet the Operating Committee

The Operating Committee is comprised of experienced service providers for the life science industry. It is a vital component of the Incubator program. Its members use industry, business and technical expertise to assist in evaluating applicant companies to determine their suitability for admission to the program. The Operating Committee advocates for the GCIC’s efforts to enhance commercialization of cardiovascular technology and economic development. Day-to-day operation of the Incubator is the responsibility of the Incubator Management Staff.

Bernat,Susan

Susan Bernat

Director of Operations & Finance, CC Innovations and Global Cardiovascular Innovation Center

Susan is responsible for fiscal planning and other related financial activities, systems, metrics and operating procedures. Susan also assists with long-range planning strategies for the department. Previously, she was responsible for budget and contract negotiations within cardiology research at Cleveland Clinic. She received her undergraduate degree in Accounting from Kent State University, and an MBA from Cleveland State University.

Coburn,Chris

Chris Coburn

Executive Director, CC Innovations

Chris Coburn is Cleveland Clinic’s chief of technology commercialization, serving as Executive Director of Cleveland Clinic Innovations since it was established in 2000. Under his leadership, Cleveland Clinic has become a national leader in commercial innovation with 30 spin-offs, more than $200 million in follow on equity investment, 200 licenses and $135 million in applied research and commercialization grants . He has recruited a top performing team guided by some of the nation’s top venture capitalists. Mr. Coburn serves on the board of directors of Autonomic Technologies, Cleveland Heart, PeriTec, and PrognostiX. He is a member of the Ohio’s 3rd Frontier Advisory Board and a trustee of Cuyahoga Arts and Culture, Hathaway Brown School, and the City Club of Cleveland He was selected in 2008 by Neurotech Business Reports as the most valuable financial professional and has consulted, testified and spoken on technology commercialization throughout North America and more than 20 countries. He is a former Vice President and General Manager of Battelle Memorial Institute, director of the U.S. Enrichment Corporation (NYSE:USU) and author of numerous articles and book chapters. He and his wife Nancy and their three children live in Shaker Heights, Ohio.

Kimberley (Gilyard) Davenport

Incubator Program Manager, Global Cardiovascular Innovation Center

Kimberley is responsible for the overall management of the Global Cardiovascular Innovation Center Incubator Program,  a 50,000 square foot facility that houses the GCIC’s incubator/accelerator program. The facility opened in May 2010. Responsibilities include operational and financial activities; marketing and communications; and facilities.

Mark Low

Managing Director, Global Cardiovascular Innovation Center

Mark comes to GCIC with a career of building successful programs to introduce new concepts and new modalities to new markets. He has managed all facets of product and market development spanning diagnostic and interventional cardiology, interventional radiology and neuroradiology, stroke treatment, image-guided surgery, drug delivery and oncology. Mark has served on the senior management team of TomTec Imaging Systems, Image Guided Technologies, EKOS Corporation, and Sonus Pharmaceuticals. Prior to concentrating his focus on start-up ventures and early stage market development, he held progressively more responsible and trailblazing positions in marketing and business development for Hewlett-Packard’s Medical Products Group. Specializing in cardiovascular ultrasound, Mark managed high performance cardiac diagnostic systems, introduced products to new market segments including private office and interventional cardiology, and developed new applications including 3D and stress echocardiography, and catheter-based intravascular ultrasound. In conjunction with these programs he managed strategic relationships with various corporate partners, investors, universities, inventors, clinical investigators and manufacturers. Mark received a B.A. degree in Natural Science from Johns Hopkins University, an M.S. degree in Physiology from the Medical College of Wisconsin, and an M.S. degree in Technical Communication from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Peter-Volas--3

Peter Volas

Director of Real Estate, Cleveland Clinic

Since 2001, Peter is the Director of Real Estate for Cleveland Clinic. In this position, he is spearheading the efforts of a diverse and growing real estate portfolio that is approximately 23.2 million sq. ft. in two states and Canada. His responsibilities include acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, asset and portfolio management, project development, strategic planning, financial analysis, and value creation. His former professional affiliations include Deloitte and Jones Lang LaSalle. Peter is a trustee for the North Canton Community Improvement Corporation as well as a member of its Economic Development Task Force. He graduated from the School of Architecture at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, earned his M.B.A. from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and completed his professional designation from the CCIM Institute (CCIM).

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