Virginia Biotechnology Association

Together, We're Working Wonders in Virginia

Executive Director

Mark A. Herzog has served as executive director of the Virginia Biotechnology Association (VaBIO) since August of 2000. He is responsible for the strategic direction, operations, membership and policy positions for the statewide trade group that promotes the considerable scientific and economic impact of the life sciences industry in the Commonwealth of Virginia. VaBIO is headquartered at the Virginia Biotechnology Research Park, in Richmond.

He was appointed in 2006 by former Governor Tim Kaine to a four year term as a member of the Economic Development Strategic Plan Steering Committee for the Commonwealth of Virginia. In 2008, Mark was named to the General Assembly’s Joint Subcommittee on Biotechnology and the Biosciences by the Rules Committee of the Senate of Virginia. From 2002 through 2005, he served as a member of former Governor Mark Warner’s Virginia Biotechnology Commission.

Mark is the secretary and co-founder of the Chesapeake Bioscience Education Foundation and serves as the immediate past chairman of the Council of State Bioscience Associations (CSBA), the national body of all the state bioscience associations in the United States. He is also a member of the executive committee of the board of directors of the Capital Region Workforce Investment Board and an officer of the board of directors of the Mid-Atlantic Bio Coalition.  In addition, Mark is a member of the National Advisory Council of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

He previously served as international business manager and, from 1998-2000, as director of business and industry workforce development for the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce. Prior to joining the Chamber staff, he held positions in the Virginia Department of Business Assistance and the campaign office of the late Herbert H. Bateman, former congressman for Virginia’s 1st District.  He also served as a member of the executive committee for BIO 2003, the international biotechnology convention, held in Washington, D.C.  Mark was also one of the three original founders of the World Affairs Council of Greater Richmond.

Most recently, Mark was named one of the “Top 40 Under 40″ for 2007 in the Greater Richmond region by Style Weekly magazine and was selected as a member of the Leadership Metro Richmond class of 2009.  In 2010, he earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential, the highest professional credential for the industry, from the American Society of Association Executives. Mark is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a Certificate in Association and Non-Profit Management from the University of Virginia.  He is married and resides with his family in Richmond, Virginia.