40 Under Forty 2019 nomination for Georgia Bio’s Maria Thacker-Goethe
We are delighted to announce that Maria Thacker-Goethe, President & CEO of Georgia Bio and Executive Director of Georgia Global Health Alliance, has been selected by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as a 40 Under Forty 2019 honoree. More than 400 nominations were submitted this year and her professional and personal accomplishments secured her place alongside other prominent Atlanta leaders.
Below are a few of her many accomplishments:
- Named the President & CEO of Georgia Bio in 2019 and affiliated for 13 years
- Became the launching Executive Director for the Georgia Global Health Alliance in 2016
- Secured state funding to expand the Georgia BioEd Institute rural teacher training initiatives
- Leading health ecosystem collaboration and expansion through Global Health ATL
- Serves on the boards for CJD Foundation, Southeast BIO, Southeast Medical Device Association, and Coalition of State Bioscience Institutes
- 2019 Recipient of the Metro Atlanta Chamber Phoenix Award
- 2009 Recipient of the Power 30 Under 30 Awards
- 10 years with the Junior League of Atlanta: Chair for the La Amistad Estrellitas and Wellspring Living programs
Maria is passionate about her work and community – all while making time for her 2-year old daughter Cecilia and her husband, Patrick. We thank her for championing the efforts to make Georgia’s Life Sciences and Public Health industries known throughout the state, nationally and globally.The honorees will be celebrated at an evening awards event on Nov. 7, 2019, at The Fairmont, 1429 Fairmont Ave. NW, in Atlanta.
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July 24, 2026, Atlanta, GA - Georgia Life Sciences applauds Congressman Rich McCormick (R-GA) for introducing the Biotechnology Diplomacy Leadership Act , legislation designed to strengthen America's leadership in biotechnology by establishing a senior biotechnology leadership position within the U.S. Department of State. As biotechnology continues to drive breakthroughs in healthcare, agriculture, advanced manufacturing, and national security, the United States must remain a global leader in innovation while strengthening strategic partnerships with allies around the world. The proposed legislation recognizes biotechnology as a critical component of U.S. economic competitiveness and foreign policy and would help ensure that the federal government is well positioned to advance these priorities internationally. The legislation also reflects recommendations from the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology , which called for a more coordinated national approach to advancing biotechnology and protecting U.S. leadership in this strategically important sector. "Georgia is home to one of the nation's fastest-growing life sciences ecosystems, and policies that strengthen America's global biotechnology leadership directly benefit innovators, researchers, manufacturers, and patients," said Maria Thacker Goethe, President & CEO of Georgia Life Sciences. "We appreciate Congressman McCormick's leadership in recognizing biotechnology as both an economic engine and a strategic national priority." Georgia Life Sciences looks forward to working with policymakers at both the federal and state levels to advance policies that foster innovation, strengthen the U.S. bioeconomy, and ensure America remains the global leader in biotechnology.
Georgia Life Sciences names Renee Martin, Ph.D., to lead its Teacher Training Initiative, advancing educator workforce development and Georgia's future life sciences talent pipeline.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 16, 2026 ATLANTA, Ga . – Eighteen Georgia high school agriscience teachers recently participated in a hands-on plant tissue culture training at Cedar Shoals High School in Athens, equipping educators with biotechnology skills and classroom resources that will expand access to experiential STEM learning for students across the state. Hosted through a partnership led by Georgia Life Sciences (GLS), the workshop was facilitated by Julie Throne, Agriscience Teacher, FFA Advisor, and CTAE Department Chair at Cedar Shoals High School. Participants received practical instruction in plant tissue culture techniques using newly developed portable tissue culture kits generously donated by California-based Athena Ag. Plant tissue culture is a foundational biotechnology technique used in agriculture and plant science research to propagate plants under aseptic conditions. By incorporating these concepts into agriscience classrooms, educators can provide students with hands-on experiences that introduce biotechnology while building technical skills relevant to careers in agriculture and biotechnology. As part of the workshop, each participating teacher received two complete plant tissue culture kits to take back to their school, enabling students throughout Georgia to engage in laboratory-based biotechnology activities and explore emerging career pathways in the life sciences. "Providing educators with access to industry-relevant training and classroom resources is one of the most effective ways to inspire the next generation of Georgia's life sciences workforce," said Maria Thacker Goethe, President & CEO of Georgia Life Sciences. "Through partnerships like this, we're helping teachers bring real-world biotechnology into their classrooms while expanding opportunities for students to discover careers in one of Georgia's fastest-growing industries." The training is part of Georgia Life Sciences' broader Teacher Training Initiative, a statewide workforce development program that equips middle and high school educators with the knowledge, tools, and industry connections needed to deliver hands-on biotechnology instruction. Through strategic partnerships with industry, education, and nonprofit organizations, the initiative continues to strengthen Georgia's talent pipeline by connecting classroom learning with real-world workforce opportunities. Georgia Life Sciences extends its appreciation to Julie Throne for leading the training and to Athena for its generous donation of classroom kits, helping expand access to biotechnology education for educators and students across the state.
