Tiffany Wilson Karp, Executive Director of GCMI, Tapped to Serve on the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship

ATLANTA, GA and WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwired - Oct 9, 2014) - U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker has announced that Tiffany Wilson Karp, Executive Director of the Global Center for Medical Innovation (GCMI), is one of the 27 individuals who have been selected to serve on the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NACIE).

The Council will operate as an independent entity within the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIE), which is housed within the U.S. Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA). NACIE members will advise the Secretary of Commerce on issues related to accelerating innovation, expanding entrepreneurship, and developing a globally competitive workforce.

"Through our 'Open for Business Agenda,' the Commerce Department has prioritized supporting entrepreneurs and helping foster innovation, which are key drivers of America's global competitiveness," said Secretary Pritzker. "The new NACIE members are a diverse and dynamic group of successful entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors, as well as leaders from nonprofit organizations and academia. I appreciate their willingness to serve our nation on these important issues, and I look forward to working with the Council to advance innovation and cultivate a skilled workforce for today's 21^st century jobs."

Karp has deep business experience, and has spent over 12 years bringing innovative medical technology from benchtop to bedside. She joined GCMI during its startup phase to help establish the organization, directing business development activities, building strategic relationships and bringing together core members of the medical device ecosystem. She works with universities, clinicians, industry, investors and startups focused on innovation, patient care and economic growth. She leads all strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the Center, and also serves as the 2014-2015 President of the Southeastern Medical Device Association (SEMDA).

"GCMI originated as a direct result of the OIE's commitment to driving commercialization and innovation in the U.S., and we have been fortunate to host Secretary Pritzker on a visit to Atlanta," Karp said. "It is an honor to support her, and to participate in this national initiative to drive innovation and entrepreneurship."

NACIE's overarching focus is recommending transformational policies to the Secretary that will help U.S. communities, businesses, and the workforce become more globally competitive. NACIE members, who will serve a two-year term, were chosen based on their ability to carry out the objectives of the Council. All of the appointees have demonstrated expertise and experience in the areas of innovation, entrepreneurship, and workforce skills. In reviewing the applications, the Secretary sought individuals who have been nationally recognized leaders in a variety of fields in order to create a balanced point of view, including a representation of different demographics, organization size, industry sector, and geographic regions.

NACIE's work will be organized into subcommittees around three main focus areas: entrepreneurship, innovation, and job-driven skills training. The full Council will convene four times each year beginning with the first meeting in December 2014.

To learn more about NACIE, visit www.eda.gov/oie/nacie/.

To learn more about GCMI, visit www.devices.net.