Mary Albertson is responsible for directing the team that manages intellectual property created at Georgia Tech. She is an internationally recognized leader in the field of technology transfer. For most of her career, she was with Stanford University, where she culminated her 26 years there as Associate Director of Operations for the Office of Technology Licensing.
Dr. Charleson S. Bell, PhD is a modern day polymath, pioneering and drawing from multiple fields and bodies of knowledge to solve many of the world's current problems. A multi-talented man of Faith, Dr. Bell not only excels in Innovation and Research but also the arts including Creative Writing and Music/Film Production. Unifying and uplifting others, either through innovation or art, is his passion.
Bentley joined CTTC in June 2011 and is responsible for directing all aspects of the office, focusing on faculty service and transactional efficiency. Prior to Vanderbilt, Bentley served for five years as the director of commercialization for Cleveland Clinic Innovations, that health care center’s technology commercialization function. Before the Cleveland Clinic, he served as the associate director of the University of Virginia’s Patent Foundation. Bentley received his M.S.
David Blittner is chair of the private equity transactions group and a partner in the New York office. David is a seasoned corporate transactions attorney with over 30 years of experience practicing in New York. He advises private equity sponsors in connection with acquisitions, dispositions and financings. He has deep experience steering leveraged buyouts and dispositions of public and private companies, as well as minority investments, public recapitalizations and restructurings.
Jennifer Caldwell is Director of Technology Transfer. Previously, Caldwell led the Technology Commercialization Group in the Partnerships Office at ORNL, which is operated and managed by UT-Battelle, LLC. She manages the Technology Commercialization Group which is responsible for intellectual property portfolio management, licensing, and technology transfer. Caldwell works closely with businesses in our community and nation-wide to bring emerging technologies from research institutions to the marketplace.
An internationally renowned political scientist, management scholar and visionary leader, Diermeier is Vanderbilt’s ninth chancellor.
Vanderbilt named Diermeier chancellor in late 2019 after an extensive search by the Board of Trust. In May 2024, the Board of Trust extended Diermeier’s contract until 2035 “as a demonstration of our confidence in Chancellor Diermeier’s leadership and to support the realization of his long-term vision for the university.
Jesse Draper is a mother of 3 boys and founding partner of Halogen Ventures focused on early stage investing in consumer technology companies led by female and co-ed teams. Draper, the first solo female GP in Los Angeles is also a 4th generation venture capitalist, the creator and host of Emmy nominated television series, The Valley Girl Show, and host of the MOMumental Podcast.
Jonathan Godfrey serves as senior vice president and head of regional commercial banking. In this role Godfrey has strategic responsibility for the middle market and business banking segments, across our national footprint. He works directly with regional leaders to bring clients the Bank’s leading-edge solutions and extensive commercial services and is involved with the middle market expansion across the united States.
As Senior Director and Partner at IndieBio, Alex is responsible for managing all of the day-to-day operations associated with the program, demo day, and the alumni network. He works closely with teams during the program on customer discovery and sales, and with investors, press, and partners to build and sustain the IndieBio ecosystem.
With a mom as a registered nurse, and a wife as an Emory physician, Jason has been surrounded by healthcare his entire life. After studying information systems at Carnegie Mellon, he applied his engineering background to various product roles at successful healthcare tech companies, before joining Patientco (acquired by Waystar) as one of the first product managers.
Joe brings 15+ years of experience scaling technology companies to Front Porch and is our primary contact for all tech-focused fund partners and direct investments.
Stuart C. McWhorter has served as TNECD commissioner since July 2022. During his tenure, TNECD has nearly 160 projects, which represent more than 21,700 job commitments and $10.9 billion in capital investment. Of those projects, more than 28 percent were the result of foreign direct investment.
Stephen joined CTTC in May 2024 and is responsible for leading the New Ventures team in their efforts to advance entrepreneurship and new venture creation and support programs across the Vanderbilt campus, in the greater Nashville area, and throughout Tennessee.
Blake Patton is the founder and Managing General Partner of Tech Square Ventures where he leads investments in enterprise software, marketplace, and platform technology companies. Under his leadership, the firm has invested in more than 100 early-stage companies and launched Engage, an innovative corporate innovation and enterprise startup accelerator program.
Gary has 25 years experience as a General Partner of institutional VCs. Peat’s primary focus throughout has been a seed lead investor in B2B Saas in the South/Southeast. Starting with Council Capital’s debut fund in 2000 in Nashville, Gary was a General Partner for 3 funds at Council Capital focused on seed and early stage B2B Saas serving health care. Prior to Council Capital, Gary was Principal at Stonehenge Partners.
As founder and CEO of ZIRUS, David oversaw the development of a host based antiviral drug platforms. David was the Head of the Biotechnology Patent Group at Needle & Rosenberg as the group rose to national prominence through its association with the NIH, NIAID, and the CDC. He was also a co-founder of Georgia Venture Partners and a co-founder and member of the Board of Directors at Maxia Pharmaceuticals, where he directed the strategy of the drug patent portfolio before it was acquired by Incyte Pharmaceuticals.
Padma Raghavan is the Vice Provost for Research and Innovation and Chief Research Officer, Senior Advisor to the Chancellor, and Distinguished Professor of Computer Science at Vanderbilt University.
Dr. Raver offers a unique perspective on education as a developmental psychologist, professor, researcher, clinician, educator and administrator. Raver oversees all faculty, staff, programs and initiatives for Vanderbilt’s 10 schools and colleges. She also leads the university’s research, admissions, student affairs and residential life.
Todd is the Associate Vice President of Research and Executive Director for the office. He leads the team who focus on creating value from intellectual property developed by Emory researchers. Todd has worked extensively with researchers to translate their promising scientific and medical discoveries into new products that benefit society. This crucial activity helps assure that research is translated into practical applications, including new life-saving medical products that benefit the public who helped to fund it.
Rebecca Silberman is an Investment Director on the Venture Team at RA Capital Management. Rebecca's primary responsibilities include identifying compelling opportunities for new company creation and investments in early-stage companies, as well as advising RA's portfolio companies. Rebecca has a BA in Biology from Colgate University and a PhD in Biology from MIT.
Chris Sloan is the co-chair of the Firm’s Emerging Companies and Venture Capital Group, focusing on corporate structure and governance, venture capital financings, M&A, contract law, and IP protection for early-stage, high-growth businesses. He advises technology and healthcare companies on complex IT transactions and emerging technologies like AI, digital health, and blockchain.
Geof is the managing partner of the firm’s Nashville office and co-head of the firm's technology and procurement practice. He focuses his practice on advising domestic and global service providers and customers on general business and technology issues and complex sourcing and managed services arrangements, including assisting with developing business, operational and legal strategies, negotiating transactions, and corporate and operational structures.
Marcus Whitney is a Founding Partner of Jumpstart Health Investors (JHI), the most active early-stage healthcare venture capital firm in America. Of JHI’s funds, Marcus leads Jumpstart Nova, JHI's institutional, strategic, healthcare seed fund.
