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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is recognized for its strong
3and diverse economic assets in medical and agricultural
4biotechnology; and
 
5    WHEREAS, In 2001, the Illinois Biotechnology Industry
6Organization was created to support and provide advocacy for
7sound public policy involving the biomedical, bioindustrial,
8and bioprocessing communities, including agriculture; that
9same year, David Miller was selected as the first President and
10CEO of the Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization by its
11Board of Directors; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Under David Miller's leadership, the Illinois
13Biotechnology Industry Organization grew to 1,500 members; and
 
14    WHEREAS, In 2003, the iBIO Institute was created and added
15to the Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization to promote
16entrepreneurship training for early stage biotechnology
17companies (PROPEL) and to address deficiencies in STEM
18education in elementary and secondary education (EDUCATE); and
 
19    WHEREAS, The work and activities of PROPEL and EDUCATE
20flourished and expanded, warranting the creation of a separate
21Governance Board for the iBIO Institute in 2013 also under

 

 

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1David Miller's leadership; and
 
2    WHEREAS, In each year since 2003, the Illinois
3Biotechnology Industry Organization has collectively
4recognized 21 government officials who have been leaders in
5advancing life science issues through the presentation of the
6John W. Maitland Jr. Biotechnology Leadership Award, which
7originated during David Miller's tenure; and
 
8    WHEREAS, David Miller was instrumental in working with the
9vast Illinois agricultural industry to recognize its potential
10and vital connection to biotechnology industry in Illinois and
11the Midwest; and
 
12    WHEREAS, David Miller was a co-creator of the Vision for
13Illinois Agriculture in 2006-07, a co-chair of the Farm
14Illinois Food and Agriculture Roadmap in 2014-15, and a 2014
15recipient of the Illinois Farm Bureau's highest honor, the
16Eagle Award for Excellence; and
 
17    WHEREAS, David Miller heavily contributed to the
18successful attraction of the international Biotechnology
19Industrial Organization convention to Chicago and the Midwest
20in 2006, and again in 2010 and 2013; and
 
21    WHEREAS, A 2012 industry analysis conducted by Ernst &

 

 

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1Young found that 81,000 individuals in Illinois were employed
2in 3,500 biotechnology firms, which added $98 billion to the
3Illinois economy, making the biotechnology industry a key
4driver to economic growth; and
 
5    WHEREAS, The analysis demonstrated that biotechnology in
6the Midwest ranked and competed aggressively with all other
7regions in the United States, with Chicago and Illinois
8providing the leading center of the Midwest biotechnology
9sector; and
 
10    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is now recognized for its
11leading Midwest and national presence and dominance in
12biotechnology; and
 
13    WHEREAS, In February of 2015, David Miller retired as
14President and CEO after presiding over 13 years of incredible
15growth in biotechnology in Illinois; he was bestowed with the
16title of President Emeritus by its Board of Directors;
17therefore, be it
 
18    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
19NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
20recognize and commend David Miller for his leadership in the
21growth of the biotechnology industry in the State of Illinois;
22and be it further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That we show our great appreciation for the vast
2contributions that the biotechnology industry makes to the
3Illinois economy; and be it further
 
4    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
5presented to David Miller as a symbol of our respect and
6esteem.