Joan Koerber-Walker's Blog

A Few Key Maxims

Joan Koerber-Walker — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 02:35:25 +0000

It’s hard to find a space in the media today that is not filled with incumbents, candidates and presumptive candidates sharing their message with “the people.” Perhaps, like many of us, you are tired of it all; the repetition, the name calling, the bickering and worse. I know I am. There are a couple of things [...]

Honor Our Innovators and Nominate Them for Our Nation’s Highest Honor

Joan Koerber-Walker — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:24:42 +0000

Innovation is a key characteristic of our nation and critical to our current and future global leadership. These days it is rare to attend a speech or symposium where innovation does not figure prominently in the conversation. It’s so easy to talk about innovation. It’s not so easy to actually develop a new product or [...]

The Power of a Support Team

Joan Koerber-Walker — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:47:53 +0000

On January 5th, I boarded a plane to Michigan to join my family in preparation for my Dad’s open heart surgery. At age 74 he was going into the U of M Cardiovascular Center for on overhaul of the quadruple bypass he had received 22 years before. This time if was going to be a bit [...]

Spreading the Word on the SBIR STTR Race to the Finish Line

Joan Koerber-Walker — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 13:17:02 +0000

Few government programs make a bigger impact on keeping the United States at the forefront of innovation and technology of all kinds than the SBIR/STTR program. A heat in the race for SBIR/STTR reauthorization was including in it in the Continuing Resolution (CR) that funded the Federal Government through December 16th, The Senate has now [...]

The Super Committee could put bioscience industry growth and innovation at risk … hopefully they won’t!

Joan Koerber-Walker — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 11:27:53 +0000

Washington’s support is critical in protecting the only sector that demonstrated job gains, in Arizona and in Tucson in 2010.” Last week I had the opportunity to share my opinion on some of the key decisions that the Super Committee is grappling with that could have a lasting impact on our community and our state. [...]

Small Business, Innovation, and the Importance of Long Term SBIR and STTR Reauthorization NOW

Joan Koerber-Walker — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 18:52:36 +0000

At times like these, when the need for innovation, is greater than ever, the SBIR and STTR Programs hold the keys to the growth of new and innovative products in the U.S. small business sector. Funding through SBIR and STTR awards provides critical support for new discoveries in both the small business and university [...]

Want To Move Forward Faster? Activate The Collaborative Gene

Joan Koerber-Walker — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 16:19:21 +0000

Arizona biosciences sector demonstrates how to accelerate innovation and job growth and offers insight on how Washington can keep things moving forward faster by activating its “collaborative gene.” By Joan Koerber-Walker, President and CEO, AZBio – The Arizona BioIndustry Association and Chairman of CorePurpose, Inc. These days tales of economic vitality are few and far [...]

Reality and Perception: People v the State of Illusion

Joan Koerber-Walker — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 14:16:26 +0000

What is real? What is perception? These questions and the answers to them shape our work life, our personal life, and the world around us. In business, perception is the basis of our brand, the root of our strategic vision, and the foundation of our team’s commitment to achieving it. In life, how we perceive [...]

Making your mark on the wall

Joan Koerber-Walker — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 22:13:48 +0000

I spend a quite a bit of my time with with innovators and entrepreneurs these days. As CEO of the Arizona BioIndustry Association or AZBio as we say, I get to connect with teams that are researching and developing products for a better world… Sustainable Health (and health care) , more plentiful food, greener energy… [...]

Brand, Reputation, and Delusion

Joan Koerber-Walker — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 23:12:31 +0000

If you are working on growing your business, you can expect to hear talk about the importance of building a brand. There are branding companies, branding consultants, branding experts, branding strategists, and so on and so on. All of them want to help you grow your business by creating a brand presence in the mind [...]