Texas CEO Magazine November|December 2014 | Page 4

publisher’s letter TEX S ceo magazine November|December 2014 Volume 5, Issue 6 Publisher Pat Niekamp Managing Editor Ray Niekamp Art Director Tania Roberts Sales Truby Chiaviello Potomac Media 202-363-3741 THERE’S MOMENTUM EVERYWHERE Photography Shannon Drawe Jonathan Garza Social Marketing Manager Will Pate Writer & Editor Dacia Rivers Web Developer Jeff Rose Branding & Web Design Andrew Niekamp This issue focuses on two topics – the first is regenerative medicine and stem cell research. In my travels across the state I’ve often heard the phrase, “Stem cells are the future of medicine.” The next part of the sentence usually focuses on research being done on potential cures for cancer, macular degeneration, heart disease, and all the horrible illnesses our families, friends and co-workers have to face. Stem cell research and regenerative medicine – the application of that research – have so much potential, it represents BIG opportunities for business growth and jobs in the biotech space in Texas. Much of what’s being done is in the research stages with a few success stories of companies that have gone to market and commercialized products in areas like wound care. Our first article will quickly give an overview of the potential markets and the work being done in Texas. From there we dig deeper into the history of stem cell research, look at ethics issues, and the specific challenges in manufacturing – then you’ll then meet a doctor who is using regenerative medicine with tissue engineering and transplantation to return normal form and function to our wounded warriors at the San Antonio Military Medical Center. With all the work being done in Texas, we have the rare opportunity to become the center of regenerative medicine – if all our public and private resources can join forces. I applaud San Antonio and the work of BioMed SA in bringing the World Stem Cell Summit to SA December 3-5, as a big step in showing the biomedical industry what Texas has to offer. Our second major topic in this issue is the 2015 Economic Forecast. We made four stops on this year’s tour with each event a sellout. With the help of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and its branches in Houston and San Antonio, UT McCombs marketers and their Alumni Network, plus top executives from key sectors driving our Texas economy, we have a very clear view of what’s coming next year. Read on. Pat Niekamp, Publisher [email protected] Contributors Jane C. Andrews, Ph.D. David Bales Bill Bayne D. Kevin Berchelmann Maude L. Cuchiara Jim Del Vecchio Kirstin R.W. Matthews Mary Pat Moyer, Ph.D. Mario Salinas Tom Smith To subscribe to Texas CEO, please visit our website: www.texasceomagazine. com and click subscribe. The contents of this publication are copyright 2014 by Texas CEO Media, LLC, with all rights restricted. Any reproduction or use of content without written consent of Texas CEO Media is strictly prohibited. Texas CEO reserves the right to edit all contributed articles. Editorial content does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Any advice given in editorial content or advertisements should be considered informative only. Potomac Media is the sales representative for Texas CEO Magazine. Truby Chiaviello can be reached at 202-3633741 or [email protected]. POSTMASTER Please send address changes to Texas CEO Media, P.O. Box 92436, Austin, TX 78709 [phone]