VaBIO Adds New Staff

The Virginia Biotechnology Association (VaBIO) announced the addition of two new team members in the month of July. Dawn Freeman joins the Association as senior administrative assistant and Stephanie Jenks takes over as the new manager of membership and communications.Ms. Freeman spent the last six years as the former administrative assistant, development associate and special events manager for the Richmond Symphony Orchestra. Prior to the Symphony, Ms. Freeman spent several years as benefits specialist and claims adjuster for United Healthcare and Sentry Insurance. She comes to the Association with experience in database management, special events planning, fundraising and administrative operations. On the side, she runs her own catering business and is a licensed minister at the First Baptist Church in Richmond.

Ms. Jenks is a recent transplant from Syracuse, NY and brings with her a variety of experiences from the worlds of higher education and non-profit management. Prior to relocating Ms. Jenks was the assistant director of alumni and parent programs at her alma mater, Le Moyne College. While at Le Moyne, Stephanie was responsible for creating regional alumni clubs, communications for targeted groups and worked with various committees and board sub-groups. Prior to Le Moyne, she was employed by the development arm of Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc. where she planned fundraising events, supervised volunteers and coordinated marketing and publicity efforts.

The new staff members bring the VaBIO team up to five, a huge increase in the space of a year. “The new team members are already adding so much to our operations,” said Sheryl Bryan, the project director for the Virginia Council on Advanced Technology Skills, the workforce initiative of VaBIO and the Virginia Manufacturers Association.

Contact the VaBIO staff with questions or comments at 804-643-6360.