Richmond, VA – The Virginia Biotechnology Research Park Authority and Corporation Boards
unanimously approved the appointment of Carrie Roth as the Executive Director of the Authority and
President/CEO of the Corporation, effective September 9, 2014. Roth has been serving as the Interim
Executive Director and President/CEO since December 2013 and prior to that held the position of
Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade for Governor Bob McDonnell.
“We are thrilled to officially make Carrie the leader of the Biotech Park,” said Dr. Michael Rao, President
of Virginia Commonwealth University and chairman of the Park’s Authority and Corporation Boards.
“She has demonstrated a passion for moving the Park forward and making it the center of an innovation
community in Richmond. Her ability to excite and engage stakeholders, state and local officials, and
private companies will only lead to great things for the region.”
Speaking about Roth’s appointment, Mary Doswell, Senior Vice President–Retail and Alternative Energy
Solutions for Dominion and vice chairman of the Authority Board stated, “Carrie has shown tremendous
leadership over the past several months as the Boards of the Virginia Biotechnology Park developed the
going forward strategy. She is the obvious choice and we couldn’t be more proud to announce her
selection. I am looking forward to what lies ahead for the Biotech Park and for the Central Virginia
region under her leadership.”
The Boards have approved a strategic vision to reposition and rebrand the Virginia Biotechnology
Research Park as a core component of a comprehensive regional innovation system – integrating the
present Research Park site with its adjacent context – and defining the place as a larger, integrated,
coordinated district forming a knowledge-based community. In addition, the Corporation Board, a
501(c)3 entity, will evolve into an innovation council with a regional focus – better defining
representation to reflect the innovation ecosystem stakeholders; maintaining the current state, local
and university-led representation; and fulfilling its educational and scientific purposes.
Roth brings over 20 years of broad experience in government, non-profit organizations and the private
sector to the position. She helped lead the successful effort before the General Assembly to provide
over $113 million in new economic development funding – including over $57 million to support
Virginia’s innovation economy. In addition, she worked with the technology community and the Virginia
General Assembly to bring new tools to encourage entrepreneurship based on best practices from
across the country. She is a member of the Virginia Workforce Development Board, VCU
Commercialization Advisory Panel, Virginia Beach Bio-medical and Healthcare Task Force, the Board of
Directors of RichTech and Richmond 2015 UCI World Championship, and on the JDRF Richmond Chapter
Gala Committee. Carrie attended Hillsdale College and is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth
University. She and her husband, Doug, reside in Chesterfield County.
About the Park: The Research Park is a life sciences community adjacent to the Virginia Commonwealth
University (VCU) Medical Center―housing private sector companies, research institutes, non-profits,
and state and federal laboratories on a 34-acre campus in downtown Richmond, Virginia. The Park is
home to 57 private and non-profit companies, state and federal laboratories, and research
institutes/administrative functions of VCU and the VCU Health System, employing approximately 2,400
researchers, scientists, engineers and support personnel. Major member organizations in the park
include Health Diagnostic Laboratories, Inc., the Altria Center for Research and Technology, United
Network for Organ Sharing, and the Virginia Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services. The Park has
also developed partnerships with neighboring Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico Counties to expand its
34-acre downtown campus to extend the reach of the Research Park for future satellite parks that can
accommodate larger companies on suburban campuses in the Greater Richmond area.
