The Georgia Bioscience Technology Institute (GBTI) is building a workforce pipeline to provide opportunities for biobusiness and students to come together to support an economic development corridor in the southeastern United States. Dubbed the "Innovation Crescent," this region offers opportunity and a template for educational reform. The GBTI set out to create a workforce development pipeline which stretches from 7th grade to employment in the bioscience industry. Challenges of regional diversity, funding and dramatic growth were addressed in a collaborative effort to bring biotechnology to the forefront. This session will discuss the effective results of finding the right people.

• Describe the orchestration of the overall process to identify the stakeholders and critical people
• Explain how to involve biobusiness in the development phase of the project
• Discuss how to secure education professionals and curriculum from middle school through college