HCAR - Hershey Center for Applied Research. South Centrals Pennsylvania's Premier Research Park Located Adjacent to Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and College of Medicine.
Laura J. Butcher, Executive Director
Laura J. Butcher currently serves as the first Executive Director of the Hershey Center for Applied Research. Ms. Butcher's responsibilities include marketing and managing South Central Pennsylvania's only research park offering state-of-the art wet and dry lab facilities, office space, amenities, and support services to life sciences and high technology companies and researchers.
Previous to her work with the research park Ms. Butcher served as the Director of Constituent Affairs for the Technology Investment Office at the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. In this role she was responsible for spearheading a variety of projects and initiatives that integrated and leveraged the assets of technology-based economic development partners across the Commonwealth. Prior to her work with the Commonwealth Ms. Butcher served as a communications officer for the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus supporting the Communications and Technology committee. Before returning to the Harrisburg area Ms. Butcher was employed by the Financial Relations Board/BSMG Worldwide, an investor relations firm in San Francisco where the majority of her clients were technology companies based out of the Silicon Valley.
David B. Carpi, Business Development Consultant
David B. Carpi is currently responsible for attracting new tenants to the Hershey Center for Applied Research and building strategic relationships between tenants and key partners. Mr. Carpi has deep biotechnology and life sciences expertise. His responsibilities include attracting leading life sciences companies and start-ups to the cutting-edge research park and its business escalation network.
As the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of 3T Ophthalmics since 2004, Mr. Carpi has provided commercial development expertise to a drug delivery technology company that provides non-invasive small molecule and protein based treatments for eye disorders. In this role he has led fund-raising for the company and orchestrated corporate collaborations with multinational drug /biotech companies. Prior to his work for 3T Ophthalmics, Mr. Carpi was a business development consultant for Chromocell Corporation, and served in strategic leadership and business development roles at Rejuvenon Corporation (now Sapphire Therapeutics), Enchira Biotechnology Corporation, and the Liposome Company. Previously he worked in sales and marketing for Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical (a division of Johnson & Johnson) and Merck & Co. David received his Master of Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and his Bachelor of Science from Carnegie Mellon University.
David can be reached at dcarpi@hersheyresearch.com or 717-566-8900.
Linda L. Garisto, Executive Assistant
Linda serves as Executive Assistant to Laura Butcher, Executive Director of the Hershey Center for Applied Research. Her responsibilities include event planning, tenant liaison, scheduling, and finance.
Ms. Garisto previously worked for the Arizona Department of Commerce as a Public Information Officer. Prior to her work in Arizona, Ms. Garisto was a member of the Financial Integration Team with Ahold Financial Services.
Linda can be reached at lgaristo@hersheyresearch.com or 717 566-8900.