BioHive Welcomes New Chair and Vice Chair to Board

SALT LAKE CITY, July 17, 2023 – BioHive, a public-private non-profit representing Utah’s collective of life sciences and healthcare innovation companies, announced today the appointment of Jared Bauer as Chairman of the Board and Cindy Dunkle as Vice Chair. Bauer will succeed Chris Gibson (CEO of Recursion), who has served as Chairman since BioHive’s inception in 2021.

“On behalf of BioHive and the Board of Directors, I would like to extend my gratitude to Chris Gibson for his leadership and contributions to BioHive,” said Aimee Edwards, Executive Director of BioHive. “Chris has helped BioHive grow into the robust and collaborative organization it is today, and his direction has been invaluable since its inception. It is my pleasure to welcome Jared Bauer and Cindy Dunkle to lead the next chapter of BioHive. Their years of experience in Utah’s life sciences community will be instrumental in BioHive’s continued growth.”  

As Chairman of the Board, Bauer will help guide BioHive’s strategic direction, engage key stakeholders, and ensure the organization maintains high governance standards. He brings over two decades of extensive experience to BioHive in entrepreneurship, leadership, and healthcare innovations. Prior to assuming his role as Chairman, Bauer served as BioHive’s Vice-Chair. In addition to his new role as BioHive’s Chairman, Bauer serves as CEO of IONIQ Sciences, CEO of Seek Labs, and trustee of the Oliver Fund (a non-profit co-founded with his wife).

“BioHive’s goals of championing our industry through recruitment, fostering diversity, workforce development and promoting industry accomplishments will continue to make crucial innovations that boost our state’s economy and help patients around the globe. It is a privilege to represent the more than 150,000 Utahns that directly and indirectly comprise BioHive. A lot of exceptional people from Salt Lake City, the State of Utah, and BioHive have worked tirelessly to make BioHive the success that it is today. I am honored to assume stewardship of BioHive from its original Chairman, Chris Gibson, CEO of Recursion. Chris’ dedication to our community is remarkable. I am also thankful to Kelvyn Cullimore, CEO of BioUtah. Kelvyn’s support and friendship has been instrumental to our success, and I am excited to continue our partnership.” 

Cindy Dunkle, Chief People Officer, Denali Therapeutics, will assume the role as Vice Chair of the Board. 

“I am honored and excited to assume the role as BioHive’s Vice Chair,” said Dunkle. “Our dedication to branding, building, and bringing together BioHive over the last few years is remarkable. I am proud of BioHive’s commitment to Utah’s life sciences community, and I am excited to continue supporting our community.”  

“A lot of exceptional people from Salt Lake City, the State of Utah, and BioHive have worked tirelessly to make BioHive the success that it is today,” said Bauer. “In particular, I am honored to assume stewardship of BioHive from its original Chairman, Chris Gibson, CEO of Recursion. Chris’ dedication to our community is remarkable.”

About BioHive
BioHive is a thriving collective of more than 1,300 companies representing the life science and healthcare innovation ecosystem of Utah’s economy. Established in 2021, BioHive is a public-private partnership to brand, build and bring together Utah’s life science and healthcare innovation ecosystem. BioHive seeks to connect, unite and support the industry and broader ecosystem with a focus on serving our community. BioHive includes researchers, developers, and manufacturers of therapeutics, devices, and diagnostics, as well as laboratory facilities, healthcare delivery systems, digital health, health IT, and supply-chain businesses that support these industries. Utah has the fastest-growing life science community in America since 2012, employing more than 150,000 people directly and indirectly. BioHive is leading the way with crucial innovations that boost our state’s economy and help patients around the globe.