Peter M. Pellerito is the senior policy advisor and former interim vice president for state government relations and alliance development for the Washington DC-based Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) where he focuses on Federal and State economic development initiatives and technology transfer/commercialization. Mr. Pellerito has co-authored nineteen reports and best practices guides on bioscience/life science economic development legislation and business development, and is also a contributing author/editor to the seven bi-ennial Battelle/BIO national publications focusing on state initiatives that support bioscience commercialization of research technologies, and state public policy initiatives. He sits on several national and regional university-industry committees that focus on technology transfer and commercialization efforts for universities and community college workforce development. Those organizations include the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM), Association of Public Land-grant Universities (APLU), and American Association of Universities (AAU). Mr. Pellerito was previously Assistant Vice President for State Government Relations at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and was responsible for managing portions of the public affairs issues unit for the university’s central administration during his tenure from 1978-1995. He holds a BA degree from California State University, Northridge, and Masters Degree from Michigan State University.