The Commons Team

President & CEO, BioCT Dawn Hocevar is President & CEO at BioCT. She is the 2017 President and Board Chair of Women In Bio and has spent the last five years in various roles with Women In Bio including: fundraising, national program chair and helped establish Women In Bio’s Boardroom Ready program. Women In Bio has 13 chapters across the country with over 2000 members.  With her most recent role as Vice President, Business Development with BioSurplus she worked closely with BIO and affiliates across the country helping to grow vendor programs and membership.  With BioSurplus, she seeded and built business platforms in San Francisco as well as Boston and the New England area including Connecticut.  She excels in building relationships and her vast network adds tremendous value to her work with BioCT.  She has experience in distribution, sales, management and marketing with her 20 years working with Fisher Scientific.  She obtained her BS in Microbiology and Chemistry from San Jose State University and worked at Stanford University for six years prior to joining Fisher Scientific. E-mail: dhocevar@cureconnect.org

BioCT Innovations Operating Director Kimberly Kelly joined CURE (now BioCT) in April of 2014, bringing to The Commons her biotech experience in research, facilities, laboratory build-outs, project management and environmental health and safety (EHS). Ms. Kelly is a veteran of this world, having a 20+ year history with biotech and CRO start-ups. She is especially talented at creating effective, high performing team environments and delivering on team goals. Prior to joining BioCT, Ms. Kelly was Associate Director of Operations at Melinta Therapeutics (formerly Rib-X Pharmaceuticals) and was instrumental in driving the companies’ operational activities. Ms. Kelly held various roles at Melinta with increasing responsibilities in the areas of, project management, EHS, laboratory management, contractor and vendor management, managing facility improvements and the associated budgets. Kim previously worked at Worldwide Clinical Trials (formerly CEDRA) where she held department management and supervisory roles.  Kim holds a Bachelors of Science from University of Rhode Island.  She is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Thames River Innovation, is an alumni of the Leadership Program of Eastern Connecticut, serves on the Norwich Technical High School Biotech Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee and the Chamber of Eastern Connecticut’s Dream Center Advisory Committee . E-mail: kkelly@bioct.org

Executive Director, Operations  Kelley Gipson is the Executive Director, Operations Coordination of BioCT. She is an accomplished integrated marketing and communications professional possessing entrepreneurial, corporate and agency experience. Most recently, Kelley has been working in a consulting capacity on experiential brand strategy and multi-channel communications engagements. Until 2010, she served as the Brand Director, Chief Communications Officer and Chief of Staff at a global, Fortune 500 financial services firm. Prior, Kelley was a Group Account Director and senior strategist at several NY based advertising agencies developing compelling brand narratives for clients in a variety of categories. Operationally, Kelley has deep experience in change management as well as clarifying business and cultural objectives to energize and align brands, improve engagement and build positive word-of-mouth. She has directed several high-profile communications initiatives including corporate acquisitions and divestures, management transitions, IPOs, bankruptcy and restructurings as well as a number of crisis programs. The Public Relations Society of America and the Financial Communications Society have recognized her work. She is a member of International Association of Business Communicators, Elevate and Financial Communications Society. Kelley is a prior member of the National Advertising Review Board, CIT’s Women’s Leadership Council and Executive Management Committee. A graduate of New York University, Kelley completed the Executive Program on Negotiation at the Harvard Business School. E-mail: kgipson@bioct.org