PRESS RELEASE: Longtime Board Member Dr. Kenneth Tindall to Step Down; Dr. Anthony Hickey Joins First Flight Venture Center Board
Contact: Krista Covey
First Flight Venture Center, Inc.
Research Triangle Park, NC
Phone: (919) 990-8558
Email: kcovey@ffvcnc.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 12, 2024
Longtime Board Member Dr. Kenneth Tindall to Step Down; Dr. Anthony Hickey Joins First Flight Venture Center Board
Research Triangle Park, NC– December 12, 2024 – After more than a decade and a half of dedicated service, Dr. Ken Tindall will step down from his role as Secretary and Board Member of the First Flight Venture Center (First Flight) Board of Directors at the end of 2024. He will be followed, effective January 1, 2025, by Dr. Anthony Hickey, a globally recognized innovator in the fields of pharmaceutical sciences and biomedical engineering, who will join the board, bringing decades of expertise to First Flight’s mission to propel early-stage science companies through the delivery of comprehensive resources, and to empower innovators to transform good ideas into great successes
Celebrating Dr. Ken Tindall’s Contributions
Dr. Tindall’s leadership has been instrumental in advancing First Flight’s mission to empower science-focused startups. During his tenure on the Board of Directors, First Flight evolved its focus to a science-based start-up incubator, created its tagline “High Science, High Impact”, has supported hundreds of early-stage companies, expanded programs, and is now working on renovations for its building, the second oldest in the Research Triangle Park.
“Ken has been a guiding force in First Flight’s growth and impact,” said Mary U. Musacchia First Flight’s Chair, Board of Directors. “His contribution to guiding us through transformative growth, his unwavering commitment to fostering innovation, and his belief in the North Carolina innovation ecosystem has left an indelible mark on this organization and our State. We are deeply grateful to Ken for his years of service.”
"Doctor Tindall has been an extraordinary advocate and leader for First Flight, helping us empower hundreds of startups over the years. As we bid farewell to Ken, I am thrilled that Dr. Anthony Hickey will be joining the board. Dr. Hickey’s expertise and passion for innovation will help us strengthen and build on our legacy taking First Flight to even greater heights. We look forward to the exciting opportunities ahead with his guidance." said Krista Covey, President and CEO of First Flight Venture Center.
Reflecting on his time with First Flight, Ken Tindall said, “Being a part of First Flight Venture Center has been a privilege and a profoundly rewarding experience. Witnessing the incredible progress of this Institution, the startups it has touched and their transformative technologies has been inspiring. I know that Dr. Hickey’s leadership will continue to drive First Flight’s mission forward.”
Welcoming Dr. Anthony Hickey
Dr. Hickey is Professor Emeritus, the Eshelman School of Pharmacy, and Adjunct Professor, the Department of Biomedical Engineering, of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an accomplished entrepreneur. He brings over 30 years of academic and research expertise in pulmonary biology, aerosol physics, pharmaceutical formulation, drug, and vaccine delivery, to the First Flight community. He had pivotal roles as the founder of Cirrus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Oriel Therapeutics, Inc., and has held a number of advisory positions to industry and government agencies extending his expertise to product development and commercialization.
Looking forward into the new year, Mary Musacchia added, “Our board enthusiastically welcomes Dr. Anthony (Tony) Hickey to First Flight’s Board of Directors. As an entrepreneur and founder of several science-based companies Tony not only brings unparalleled scientific expertise and industry relations to First Flight but he brings first-hand knowledge of what it takes to launch a research-based company. Dr Hickey will help First Flight further its mission as a leading innovation hub and cornerstone of North Carolina’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.”
“Joining First Fight’s board is an incredible honor,” said Dr. Hickey. “Ken Tindall’s leadership has helped build a legacy that I deeply respect and aim to uphold. First Flight’s role in the entrepreneurial ecosystem is transformative, and I am committed to advancing its mission of empowering science focused startups and driving innovation.”
About First Flight Venture Center
First Flight Venture Center, Inc. (First Flight) is a prominent science-focused business incubator and innovation hub located in the heart of Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Established in 1991, First Flight has supported over 430 alumni companies specializing in high-impact science through its incubator program. The center provides strategic education, customized resources, expert guidance, business connections, and access to office and lab spaces within its 25,000 sq. ft. facility.
Each year, First Flight also extends its support to over 600 start-up companies through various business education programs. The center has been instrumental in launching businesses that have commercialized groundbreaking scientific innovations and disruptive technologies, significantly contributing to job creation in North Carolina. For more information, you can visit http://ffvcnc.org or view First Flight video.