Lori currently manages the BayBio Institute’s workforce, entrepreneurship and education initiatives, ensuring that they align with industry needs. With over 9 years of experience in workforce development, Lori has worked with the private sector, local governments and organizations to develop workforce systems in growth industries that are inclusive of underserved communities. During her 8.5 years as VP of SF Works, Lori led employer engagement efforts and developed and managed SF Works’ pre-employment training programs, including the nationally-recognized On-Ramp to Biotech program. Having completed coursework for a Ph.D. at American University in Washington, D.C., Lori served as a Senior Research Associate at the Brussels-based Migration Policy Group for 5 years, where she coordinated best practice exchanges between business leaders and senior officials from the EU member states, the US and Canada. She has also served as a Visiting Fellow at Stanford University, a Research Associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and a consultant for the Council of Europe.

Sheryl P. Denker, PhD joined the BayBio Institute as a Senior Program Advisor in 2010.  Her primary responsibilities include program development, industry outreach and school recruitment for the Institute’s science education program, Bio-Community, as well as fund development and grant writing.  Prior to joining BayBio, Sheryl enjoyed years of research on cell shape, motility, and technological advances in imaging individual and groups of cells as an Assistant Research Cell Biologist at the University of California, San Francisco and a Senior Scientist at Xenogen Corp. (now Caliper Life Sciences).  Out of the lab, she enjoys the challenge of working with the BayBio team in support of Northern California’s life science industry and their effort to enhance science education.  Sheryl is a product of California’s public schools; she received a BS in Physiology from the University of California, Berkeley, a PhD in Biomedical Sciences (focus in Cell Biology and Pharmacology) from the University of California, San Diego and post-doctoral training from the University of California, San Francisco.  Sheryl is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Society for Cell Biology.

Adam Stephens started working for the family business when he was thirteen. He quickly grew and took on more responsibility over the years learning every aspect of the shipping and logistics industry from his father. He was later recruited by IFCO Systems, the leader of international logistics in North America. He served as the Assistant General Manager for the Pallet-Services Division at the Birmingham, Alabama plant.

Adam relocated to the Bay Area in 2004 and decided to pursue a career in hospitality. He worked in Catering Sales for InterContinental’s Crowne Plaza brand; later assuming the position of Crowne Meetings Director.

In 2006 Adam successfully launched his own event firm Ira Andrew Design. Over the course of the next three and a half years he designed and planned weddings, social and corporate events for over 40 clients all across the Bay Area.

In his spare time Adam is an artist. He also enjoys the amazing cuisine and architecture one only finds in San Francisco.