Utah Governor Gary Herbert Touts the State’s Growing Life Sciences Industry at the 2018 MedTech Conference in Philadelphia, PA
September 27, 2018
Left to right, Justin Harding, Gov. chief of staff, Jake Berlin, EDCUtah, Ginger Chinn, GOED, Clark Cahoon, GOED, Gov. Gary Herbert, Brian Somers, USTAR, Val Hale, GOED and Keith Marmer, TVC.
Gov. Herbert talking with Susan Morano, VP for business development at Johnson & Johnson, at the 2018 MedTech Conference. 
Left to right Page Kranbuhl, Stryker, Kimberly Davis, J&J, Gov. Herbert
Gov. Gary R. Herbert visits with representatives of Utah’s life sciences community, AdvaMed, BD, BioUtah, EDCUtah, Merit Medical, J&J, Protecs, Stryker, TVC, and USTAR.
On Tuesday, Sept. 25, Gov. Gary R. Herbert addressed the breakfast plenary session of the 2018 MedTech Conference, telling the packed ballroom of 3,000 national and International medical technology executives and stakeholders about Utah’s exceptional life sciences industry, and raising the profile of the state as the place to be for innovation, growth and better healthcare.
The Governor emphasized that the industry supports one in 15 jobs in Utah, with above market wages. He also underscored that difference the industry makes in people’s lives.
Following his remarks, the governor visited the Utah Life Sciences exhibit booth, where he met with representatives from Utah companies, including those from BD, Edwards Lifesciences, Johnson & Johnson, Merit Medical, Protecs and Stryker.
“Utah’s life science industry is vibrant and diverse,” said Gov. Herbert. “The life science sector in the state is one of the fastest-growing in the country, due in part to our culture of innovation and collaboration. This fertile ground allows entrepreneurs to successfully take a concept to commercialization and investors are noticing.”
For the first time, BioUtah, in partnership with the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED), Economic Development Corporation of Utah (EDCUtah), the University of Utah’s Center for Technology and Commercialization (TVC), Utah Science, Technology and Research (USTAR), and Protecs, sponsored a Utah life sciences exhibit booth at the conference. The booth reinforced the governor’s message and gave the industry a platform to further highlight the new Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute study of the industry’s economic impact on the state.
“Having a united Utah presence at this conference was key,” said Keith Marmer, associate vice president, executive director at TVC, who attended the event. “Together, we created a focused venue to build awareness about our industry and network with life sciences leaders from
outside the state.”
“We were excited to have the governor there, supporting the Utah contingent” said Susan Morano, Vice President of Business Development for Johnson & Johnson. Johnson & Johnson, along with BD and Stryker had company exhibits at the conference. The governor stopped by each of their exhibit booths to talk with employees and learn more about the work they do to improve and save lives.
By all accounts, the MedTech conference was a plus for Utah’s life sciences community. In fact, several medical technology companies stopped by the booth to say that Utah would now be on their radar when looking to manufacture or expand operations.
“It was a privilege having the governor at the conference,” said Scott Whitaker, president and CEO of AdvaMed.