HTG’s Business Purpose
Provide time and cost saving technology that assists the advancement of personalized medicine and ultimately improves patient care.
HTG Cultural Values
- Strategy Driven – We are disciplined in our thoughts and actions
- Customer Focused – We are focused on adding value for customers and patients is central to what we do
- Innovative – We continuously look to improve and add value to our products and services
- Accountable — We will strive to meet our commitments and own our results
- Talented People — We attract, hire, develop, and retain talented people. Our people are our most important assets
HTG Board of Directors
High Throughput Genomics Board of Directors.
Harry A. George
Chairman
Mr. George has more than 27 years of experience with successful rapid growth technology-related companies, serving as founder, operating officer, or investor.
From 1981 to 1989, Mr. George was co-founder, director, and vice-president of finance for Interleaf, a pioneer in electronic publishing. Prior to that, he was co-founder, director and vice-president of finance of Kurzwell Computer Products. Currently, he is co-founder of Solstice Capital.
Currently serving on: the Board of Directors for: Lumidigm, High Throughput Genomics (HTG), CellzDirect, Regenesis Biomedical and AmpliMed. Other positions: Member of Investors’ Circle, member of the conference screening panel of the Arizona Venture Capital Conference (1997-2003), member of the advisory committee of the MBA program at the University of Arizona, Eller School of Business, advisor to the Arizona Center for Innovation, Trustee of the Arizona-Sonoma Desert Museum and the Tucson Museum of Art, Vice-Chair of Treasure the Desert Capital Campaign.
Donald Grimm
Mr. Grimm’s distinguished career at Eli Lily & Company included a variety of key management positions in the company’s pharmaceutical, biotechnological and medical device businesses. He served as Director of Worldwide Pharmaceutical Pricing, Director of Pharmaceutical Market Research, Director of West Coast Pharmaceutical Sales, and President/CEO and Chairman of Hybritech, Inc. While at Lily’s Hybritech, he orchestrated the development of Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA), the most significant new cancer diagnostic test ever developed for men. The company’s increased from $50 million to $150 million under Mr. Grimm’s leadership.
Other positions of responsibility have included:
Chairman, Pacific Biotech (a Lily company)
V.P. Medical Devices & Diagnostics, Eli Lily & Company
CEO, Board of Directors, Telios Pharmaceuticals
Chairman, President, Founder, Strategic Design (1994 – current)
West Coast Managing Director, Copenhagen Capacity
Chairman, San Diego Mayor’s Task Force on Effectiveness and Efficiency in City Government
Chairman, San Diego County Economic Advisory Board
Mr. Grimm currently sits on the Board of Directors for: Invitrogen, Aegis, Angstrom, ATI, CellzDirect, Q3DM, Green Cancer Center at Scripps Clinic, the UCSD Cancer Center Foundation, the Advisory Board of Scripps Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy Board of Visitors, Limbaugh Center of the University of Pittsburgh.
Bruce E. Seligmann, Ph.D.
Founder and Chief Science Officer
An internationally recognized scientist, Dr. Seligmann is also an experienced entrepreneur responsible for helping to found and build two successful biotech companies, both of which were eventually sold.
His diversified research background spans the public sector (NIH, NIAID, Laboratory of Clinical Investigation), the private sector at large pharmaceutical companies (including Ciba-Geigy and Aventis), and the two start-up biotech companies (Selectide and SIDDCO).
As V.P. of R&D at Selectide, Dr. Seligmann initiated the development of non-peptide small molecule combinatorial chemistry (combichem), established drug discovery programs and selected compounds which produced a novel Factor Xa drug that advanced into clinical trials.
As one of the inventors and developers of the intellectual property forming the basis of the ArrayPlate and qNPA technology, Dr. Seligmann recognized the value of the technology and positioned HTG to acquire it. He sold SIDDCO’s combichem business, divesting HTG with the ArrayPlate and qNPA technology, then transferred the intellectual property to HTG.
Alan Smith
Mr. Smith is the CFO of SEBRA Corporation, a world leader in producing precision instruments for blood banks, catheter manufacturers, biotechnology companies and medical device manufacturers. He worked with Deloitte & Touche for 24 years, including the position of Partner in D&T’s New York headquarters and Partner in Charge of the company’s Tucson office, before joining SEBRA in 1991. He brings experience in accounting, auditing and management to the HTG Board of Directors.
Jeff Tarlowe
Mr. Tarlowe is CFO and co-founder of Merck Capital Ventures, LLC, (MCV) a subsidiary of the global pharmaceutical company, Merck & Co., Inc. Founded in 2000, MCV seeks to invest capital in private, emerging businesses focused in areas related to the discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceuticals and other health care services. The firm invests in companies with enabling technologies whose goal is to improve productivity across all operational areas within the biopharmaceutical industry. MCV’s existing investment portfolio includes High Throughput Genomics, Acurian, PHT, Aegis Analytical, ImpactRx, MedCases/IC Axon, Cytel, VisEn Medical and NanoImaging Services.
Mr. Tarlowe has served more than 20 years at Merck in a variety of important management positions.Most recently, he led the Financial Evaluations group at Medco Health in the late 1990’s while it was a subsidiary of Merck.Previously, he held numerous roles in the Merck organization supporting mergers and acquisitions, investment and debt planning, project evaluation, capital structure optimization, foreign exchange management and pharmaceutical industry economics.
Mr. Tarlowe received an MBA in Finance from Columbia Business School, where he was elected to Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society for business students, and a BA in mathematics, cum laude, from Pomona College. Mr. Tarlowe currently serves as director for the Boards of High Throughput Genomics and Acurian, and has observer status on the Boards of other MCV portfolio companies.
Tim (TJ) Johnson
Chief Executive Officer
Tim (TJ) Johnson, an accomplished management executive, joins HTG from LVC Consulting, where he was a partner with the firm. Previously, he was senior vice president of global business services at Ventana Medical Systems. During his five years at Ventana, Johnson held various senior management positions of increasing responsibility.
Prior to Ventana Medical Systems, Johnson was vice president of global marketing at Hill-Rom Company a subsidiary of Hillenbrand Industries. With Hill-Rom Johnson also served as VP/GM of Hill-Rom Airshields, handled North American operations, and lead the global strategic planning team. He has also served as a senior consulting manager at Price Waterhouse and has sales and operational experience at Batesville Casket Company, Caloric Corporation and Frito-Lay. Johnson earned a B.S. in business from Indiana University.
Major Investors
HTG is a privately held corporation.
Major investors include:
Merck Capital Ventures
Merck Capital Ventures is a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. founded in November 2000. Merck Capital Ventures (MCV) actively invests in emerging businesses with interesting technology in areas related to the commercialization, distribution and delivery of pharmaceuticals and related healthcare services.
The focus of MCV is to invest in technologies that accelerate innovation related to the pharmaceutical business and other sectors of health care delivery. While these new technologies have impacted some sectors of healthcare, we are only at the very beginning of understanding and capitalizing on the potential to transform many long-established processes in the pharmaceutical industry and the health care field as a whole.
Solstice Capital
With offices in Tucson and Boston, Solstice Capital seeks superior venture capital returns for its limited partners through investments in seed- and early-stage companies in the alternative energy, education, environmental, life sciences and information technology industries.
The first Solstice fund, formed in 1995, invested in 21 portfolio companies. In July 2001, Solstice Capital formed Solstice Capital II Limited Partnership, a $62 million early-stage venture fund. Solstice Capital currently has $85 million of capital under management.
Valley Ventures
Valley Ventures is an institutionally-funded venture capital partnership with over $70 million under management and offices in Phoenix, Tucson and Albuquerque. The general partner is a team of experienced venture capitalists and managers dedicated to the achievement of superior investment returns by investing in and assisting emerging growth companies in the greater Southwest U.S.
In addition to providing capital to growing companies, Valley Ventures assists management in strategic planning, management development, gaining access to key industry experts and advising on capital formation events.
Village Ventures vv_logo.gif
Village Ventures invests in promising opportunities identified by its investment professionals, as well as the local managers of its partner funds.
The partner funds that make up the unique deal-sourcing network of Village Ventures are located in emerging U.S. technology centers. These are regions that are home to exceptional innovation arising from rich, intellectual capital, low costs of living and doing business, and a high quality of life – markets often overlooked by traditional venture capitalists and therefore markets that offer excellent opportunities.
Company History
2008
March
HTG receives a Phase I SBIR grant for $300k to develop a microfluidics diagnostic qNPA platform to monitor white blood cell response.
January
TJ Johnson joins HTG as CEO and President.
2007
HTG and the University of Arizona Bio5 Center for Chemical Genomics and Translational Research receive $2M seed funding from Science Foundation Arizona.
December
Jonathan Sheridan joins HTG as VP Commercial Operations.
September
HTG receives a Phase I SBIR grant for $300k to develop a 1600 gene high density qNPA™ array from NIMH.
2006
Bill Radney joins HTG as CEO and President
2005
December
Don Grimm joins HTG’s Board of Directors. Company records its second profitable operating quarter.
September
HTG records its first profitable operating quarter.
July
HTG purchases print and hybridization acceleration IP from Sigma Aldrich.
April
Company completes its “Series B” round of financing.
February
HTG adds two internationally esteemed researchers to its Scientific Advisory Board, contracting the services of Raymond L. Woosley, M.D., Ph.D. and Daniel D. Von Hoff, MD.
Read more
The HTG Management Group
Our management team has seasoned veterans of in the biotech industry
Tim (TJ) Johnson
Chief Executive Officer
Tim (TJ) Johnson, an accomplished management executive, joins HTG from LVC Consulting, where he was a partner with the firm. Previously, he was senior vice president of global business services at Ventana Medical Systems. During his five years at Ventana, Johnson held various senior management positions of increasing responsibility.
Prior to Ventana Medical Systems, Johnson was vice president of global marketing at Hill-Rom Company a subsidiary of Hillenbrand Industries. With Hill-Rom Johnson also served as VP/GM of Hill-Rom Airshields, handled North American operations, and lead the global strategic planning team. He has also served as a senior consulting manager at Price Waterhouse and has sales and operational experience at Batesville Casket Company, Caloric Corporation and Frito-Lay. Johnson earned a B.S. in business from Indiana University.
Bruce E. Seligmann, Ph.D.
Founder, Board Member and Chief Science Officer
An internationally recognized scientist, Dr. Seligmann is also an experienced entrepreneur responsible for helping to found and build two successful biotech companies, both of which were eventually sold.
His diversified research background spans the public sector (NIH, NIAID, Laboratory of Clinical Investigation), the private sector at large pharmaceutical companies (including Ciba-Geigy and Aventis), and the two start-up biotech companies (Selectide and SIDDCO).
As V.P. of R&D at Selectide, Dr. Seligmann initiated the development of non-peptide small molecule combinatorial chemistry (combichem), established drug discovery programs and selected compounds which produced a novel Factor Xa drug that advanced into clinical trials.
As one of the inventors and developers of the intellectual property forming the basis of the ArrayPlate and qNPA technology, Dr. Seligmann recognized the value of the technology and positioned HTG to acquire it. He sold SIDDCO’s combichem business, divesting HTG with the ArrayPlate and qNPA technology, then transferred the intellectual property to HTG.
Kirk A. Collamer, MBA, CPA
CFO
Mr. Collamer provides HTG with the experience and vision necessary to strategically manage its financial, sales and corporate growth as well as maximize its resources. His previous experience includes guiding two start-up firms to and through IPO’s, and obtaining public and private financing for numerous other companies.
His impressive 30-year career includes finance (serving as Chief Financial Officer for Ameritech/Telecom Corp. of New Zealand, Muzak, Pointshare and Coinstar), accounting (as controller of Aladdin Industries and Brown-Forman/Jack Daniels Distillery) and planning. His work encompasses both large Fortune 500 companies as well as start-ups.
Jonathan Sheridan
Vice-President, Commercial Operations
Prior to joining HTG, Mr. Sheridan was Director of Sales and Corporate Development for EPICENTRE® Biotechnologies, a manufacturer of molecular biology products for life science research, clinical research, molecular diagnostics and biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
Before joining EPICENTRE, he was a genomics and proteomics Regional Product Line Leader for PerkinElmer Life and Analytical Sciences. Mr. Sheridan has 21 years of experience with biotechnology in sales, marketing, strategic planning and business development and has held positions with PerkinElmer Cetus, Beckman Coulter, LiCor, Genomica and Monsanto.
Bille-Jo (BJ) Kerns
Vice-President, Strategic Marketing and Business Development
BJ Kerns joined High Throughput Genomics (HTG) as Vice President, Strategic Marketing and Business Development, in March 2008. In this position Ms. Kerns is responsible for developing and implementing HTG’s strategic plan and business development activities. A significant area of her responsibility is managing HTG’s emerging diagnostics business, specifically overseeing the development of the diagnostic content for the qNPA system.
Most recently, Ms. Kerns held the position of Director of Integrated Solutions and Molecular Diagnostics at Promega Corporation, Inc. Previously she held several positions at Ventana Medical Systems, Inc., including Director of Women’s Health, Director of Strategic Marketing, and Senior Director of Product Technical Support in Operations. Ms. Kerns has also managed a variety of functions at BioGenex and Becton Dickinson, including Business Development, Sales and Marketing, Research and Development, and Project Management.
Ms. Kerns brings with her more than 27 years of Diagnostics experience, including launching Ventana Medical System’s first FDA approved companion diagnostic PATHWAY® HER-2. She has an academic background in science and medicine which augments her general management, sales, marketing, and business development skills. While at Duke University Medical Center, Ms. Kerns published 60 scientific papers, 38 abstracts, and presented over 30 workshops in her career to date.
Ms. Kerns received an A.A.S. in Medical Technology from Elon College in Elon, North Carolina and a B.S in Health Care Management from Century University in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She has received a certification in Managing Strategic Resources from Darden Executive Education at the University of Virginia.
Look for us at the 2008 Merck Technology Symposium, May 13th to 16th in Long Branch, NJ. Find out how the qNPA ArrayPlate will enable your research. Visit us at booth 45.
