CV – Catherine Kunst

Curriculum Vitae – Catherine Kunst

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

M.B.A. Emphasis in Entrepreneurship, University of Colorado at Denver
(2004-2006)
Ph.D. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
(1988-1994)
B.S. Biochemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
(1984-1988)
PMP (Project Management Professional), Project Management Institute (2014)
Certified Salesforce Administrator, Salesforce (2015)
Precision Nutrition Certified Coach 1 (2016)
Precision Nutrition Certified Coach 2 (2018)

EMPLOYMENT

2015-present COO, Colorado Statewide Internet Portal Authority, Denver, CO
2013-2015 Director of Operations, Colorado Statewide Internet Portal Authority, Denver, CO
2012-present Founder & Principal, Icarus Rising LLC, Denver, CO
2011-2012 Executive Director, Leon County Research and Development Authority, Tallahassee, Fl
2008-2010 Executive Director, Bard Center for Entrepreneurship, Business School, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO
2006 Cofounder, Beacon Biotechnology, LLC, Denver, CO
2005-2007 Interim Director, Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, University of Denver, Denver, CO
2003-2010 Research Assistant Professor, Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, University of Denver, Denver, CO
1998-2003 Scientist, Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, Denver, CO
1998-2010 Adjoint Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Denver Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO
1995-1998 Postdoctoral Fellow (Advisor: Dr. David Patterson), Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, Denver, CO
1994-1995 Research Associate (Advisor: Dr. Stephen T. Warren), Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA

ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE

August 2013 to present, Chief Operating Officer, Colorado Statewide Internet Portal Authority (SIPA), Denver, CO
- Initially hired as Director of Operations promoted to COO in March 2015.
- SIPA provides efficient and effective e-Government services for eligible governmental entities. SIPA runs the Colorado.gov internet portal, provides PCI compliant payment processing to governments, and is a value added reseller of cloud based software solutions such as Salesforce, Google, and DocuSign.
- Responsibilities include the daily operation of the SIPA, contract management, HR, active project monitoring, vendor partnerships, and assisting the Executive Director in other aspects including strategic planning, customer service, business development, and financial analysis.

October 2012 to present, Founder & Principal, Icarus Rising LLC, Denver, CO
- Icarus Rising LLC is a consulting company founded to promote business development and technology commercialization through grant writing, business strategy development, business plan development and writing, business development and interim Executive Director work. Recent projects include:
- House of Genius, Interim Executive Director – House of Genius assembles brilliant, diverse groups of people to focus their creativity and experience to explore, discuss and solve important problems. Worked with the founders to refine their processes and operations to prepare House of Genius for expansion from 12 to 100 cities over the next 2 years.
- PharmaJet, Business Development Consultant – PharmaJet is an early stage medical device company developing needle-free jet injection devices. Working with the leadership team to identify and pursue strategic alliances, licensing opportunities, and non-dilutive funding opportunities for the company.

January 2011 – July 2012, Executive Director, Leon County Research and Development Authority
- Reported to a statutorily appointed Board of Governors. Led operations (strategic planning, P & L management, program development, marketing, community outreach) of the Authority, a special tax district in Florida, which runs a 208-acre technology park, Innovation Park, with 17 buildings and over 1 million square feet of developed office and research space employing more than 2000 people in 50 government, educational and private organizations.
- Developed a 5-year strategic plan with community input and successfully rebranded the organization.
- Worked with Florida A & M University and Florida State University to develop Innovation Park to: (1) promote the scientific research and development activities of the universities; and (2) foster economic development and broaden the regional economic base.
- Implemented policies to ensure legal compliance and appropriate internal controls to prevent future losses after a prior employee was jailed for embezzlement in January 2011.
- Hosted more than 93 public meetings in 18 months to help rebuild the credibility of the organization in the community.
- Recruited new tenants to Innovation Park such as SunnyLand Solar which is building a 0.5 megawatt R & D solar array on 10 acres of the campus using technology licensed from Florida State University.
- Built partnerships with community organizations to sponsor events and programs, several new to the region, and served as a judge, mentor or panelist for the Entrepreneurial Excellence Program, 3-Day Startup, the Cade Museum Prize for Innovation, and Tallahassee Start-up Weekend.
- Chaired the Authority’s Development Review Committee that reviews construction site plans for compliance with the Authority’s Covenants and Restrictions and Planned Unit Development.
- Chaired Quarterly Research and Engineering Roundtable in partnership with the Leon County/Tallahassee Economic Development Council to promote relationships between academia and businesses in the community.

January 2008 – September 2010, Executive Director, Bard Center for Entrepreneurship, University of Colorado Denver
- Reported to the Dean of the Business School. Led operations (strategic planning, program development, marketing, budgeting, fundraising, outreach) at the Bard Center for Entrepreneurship, which fosters economic development in the Denver area through graduate level entrepreneurship curriculum, internships, mentoring, business plan competition, business incubation, and venture capital funding.
- Generated $1 million of operating revenue annually through student enrollments, lease revenue and donations. Revamped business model of Center to be less dependent on philanthropic giving making programs self-sustaining or revenue generating.
- Improved the management of the Bard Center’s Venture Capital fund by shifting oversight to a team of student associates mentored by advisory council members.
- Developed a 5 year strategic plan for the Bard Center engaging local business leaders, alumni, entrepreneurial advisors and faculty members.
- Transformed the Bard Center for Entrepreneurship’s annual business plan competition from a university only competition by expanding eligibility to the entire state of Colorado, tripling the number of participants and doubling the number of industry specific awards, making it the largest academic business plan competition in Colorado. Secured more than $100,000 in cash and in-kind services each year as prizes.
- Co-chaired a committee for the Economic Development Council of the Downtown Denver Partnership (DDP) which promoted small business development and improved connections between Downtown Denver businesses and institutions of higher education. Built an online resource to promote the growth of local businesses.
- Partnered with the Colorado Bioscience Association, Holland and Hart, and the Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority to offer Biobootcamp each year for academic researchers and new biotechnology entrepreneurs who want a comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals of running a biotechnology company.

September 2005 – December 2007, Interim Director, Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, University of Denver

The Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization focused on basic biomedical research, was acquired by the University of Denver in 2003.

- Reported to both the Dean of the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at the University of Denver and to the Eleanor Roosevelt Institute Board of Trustees.
- Responsibilities included fundraising, supervising personnel in 6 academic research laboratories, serving as a liaison to biotech and non-profit tenant companies, budget preparation and oversight, preparation of the annual report and quarterly newsletters, website maintenance, and overseeing research compliance with all rules pertaining to the use of animals, human subjects, hazardous materials, biohazards and radioactive materials.
- Raised approximately $500,000 per year from individuals and foundations overseeing a $2 Million annual budget.
- Successfully coordinated the closure and relocation of the Eleanor Roosevelt Institute’s 50,000 square-foot biomedical research facility to nearby University of Denver campus. Assisted in development of new AAALAC accredited animal facility and closure of radioactive material license with the State of Colorado.

October 2006, Cofounder, Beacon Biotechnology, LLC
- Co-founded Beacon Biotechnology, LLC, an early stage medical diagnostic company targeting Point-of-Care, field use, and Research markets. Beacon Biotechnology is developing disposable, diagnostic microarray devices for both protein and DNA based tests. Now a silent shareholder; initial activities included research project oversight, Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant proposal editing, Private Placement Memorandum drafting and editing, and generalized strategic planning.

CONTINUING & PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

December 2017: Harvard Program on Negotiation – Negotiation and Leadership – Dealing with Difficult People and Problems
May 2017: MIT Professional Education – Cybersecurity: Technology, Application and Policy
November 2016: Salesforce Building Applications with Force.com (DEV 401)
January 2015: Salesforce Administration Essentials for New Administrators (ADM 201)
November 2014: Esri Spatial Analysis MOOC
May 2010: Leading from Within 3 Day Workshop
April 2010: Insight into Philanthropy, Advancement Resources – Symposium on Higher Education Fundraising
January 2010: Faculty Development in International Business trip to China – explored entrepreneurship and business education in China & Hong Kong meeting with CEOs, educators and economic development specialists over 14 days touring Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Shenzen, and Hong Kong. Sponsored by the University of Colorado Denver Center for International Business Education & Research (CIBER).
Summer – Fall 2007 HERS (Higher Education Resource Services) Institute Denver – leadership program for women in Higher Education administration. HERS Institutes provide an intensive 12-day curriculum that prepares women faculty and administrators for institutional leadership roles. The Institutes focus on knowledge, skills and perspectives for achieving institutional priorities and maximizing institutional resources.
Summer 2000: Basic Association & Linkage Course, Rockefeller University

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Member, Advisory Board, Wise Women, Colorado Thought Leaders Forum (2019-present)
Member, Advisory Board, GoCode Colorado, Denver, CO (2015-present)
Judge, Cade Museum Prize for Innovation (2012, 2015, 2016)
Member, Scientific Advisory Board, Dani’s Foundation, Denver, CO (2009-2014)
Ad Hoc Member, CDMRP special emphasis panel on ALS (2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2013)
Ad Hoc Member, AIBS special emphasis panel on ALS (2004, 2005, 2008, 2013)
Chair, Research and Engineering Roundtable, Leon County/Tallahassee Economic Development Council (2011-2012)
Board Member, TalTech Alliance, Tallahassee, FL (2012)
Board Member, Leon County/Tallahassee Economic Development Council (2011-2012)
Board Member, Florida Research Parks Network (2011-2012)
Member, Marketing Outreach Committee, Employ Florida, Banner Center for Life Sciences (2012)
Mentor, 3 Day Startup, Tallahassee, FL (2012)
Judge, Tallahassee Startup Weekend (2011)
Member, Advisory Council, University of Colorado Technology Transfer Office (2008-2010)
Co-Chair Subcommittee on Small Business Development/Higher Education for the Economic Development Council of the Downtown Denver Partnership (2009-2010)
Ad Hoc Member, AAAS review panel for the Lied Endowed Basic Science Pilot Grants at KUMC RI (2010)
Ad Hoc Member, AIBS CDMRP special emphasis panel on Autoimmune Disease (2009)
Participant, Silicon Flatiron’s Roundtable on Entrepreneurship & Higher Education for the Governor’s Innovation Council (2008-2009)
Member and Ad Hoc Member, BDCN3 and CDIN, NIH Study Section (2001-2008)
Member, Beta Gamma Sigma (2006-present)
Scientific Advisory Board Member, BP Proteomics, Inc. (2005-2010)
Member, American Society for Human Genetics (1994-2009)
Winner Mary L. Campbell Biotech Life Science Award & Second Place Overall, Bard Center for Entrepreneurship Business Plan Competition, Denver, CO (2005)
Ad Hoc Member, CDMRP special emphasis panel for Gulf War Research-B (2005)

EXTERNAL FUNDING

Completed:

Identification of Genes that Delay ALS Onset
- Principal Investigator: Catherine B. Kunst, Ph.D.
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke (NINDS); 2R01 NS41646-07 5/15/01-12/30/10
- The goal of this grant was to identify genes that prevent or delay ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Lou Gehrig’s Disease) onset in a mouse model of the disease.

Protein Expression analysis in mice with delayed ALS onset
- Principal Investigator: Catherine B. Kunst, Ph.D.
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association 02/01/02-01/31/03
- The goal of this grant was to define the spinal cord proteome from normal, ALS and delayed ALS onset mice.

Genetic Mapping of ALS Modifier Genes in the Mouse
- Principal Investigator: Catherine B. Kunst, Ph.D.
- Muscular Dystrophy Association 07/01/00-12/30/02
- The goal of this research was to genetically map the genes that modify the expression of the ALS phenotype due to the mG86R SOD1 mutation.

Genetic Mapping of ALS Modifier Genes in the Mouse
- Principal Investigator: Catherine B. Kunst, Ph.D.
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association 08/01/00-07/31/03
- The goal of this research was to genetically map the genes that modify the expression of the ALS phenotype due to the G93A SOD1 mutation.

Aberrant Protein Interaction in ALS
- Principal Investigator: Catherine B. Kunst, Ph.D.
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association 02/01/99-01/31/02
- The aims for this grant were to investigate the role of protein interactions and cellular mislocalization in the pathogenesis of ALS due to mutations in SOD1.

NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowship (1996-1998)
NIH Postdoctoral Traning Grant (1995-1996)
NIH Predoctoral Training Grant (1990-1992)

ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE

Teaching:

University of Denver, Denver, CO

General Genetics (BIOL 2510) Course director (2007)
Human Genetics—The Present (NATS1261) Course director (2005, 2006)
The Questions & Controversies of Stem Cell Research Salon facilitator (2005)
Modern Alchemy (NATS1261) Course director (2004)

University of Colorado Denver and Health Sciences Center, Denver,CO

Human Medical Genetics Program Graduate training faculty (2000-2007)
First PREP Medical Board Review Course Facilitator (1997)

Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA

Medical Biochemistry Tutor (1991, 1992)
Small group facilitator (1994)
Medical Genetics Teaching assistant (1992)
Small group facilitator (1995)

Service:

University of Colorado Denver

2009 Cochair, Enterprise Programs Committee, Business School Strategic Planning Group

University of Denver

2010 Member, Internal Review Panel, Boettcher Foundation Webb-Waring Biomedical Research Awards
2006-2007 Member, Campaign Case Statement Planning Group, University Planning Advisory Committee
2003-2007 Member, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
2003-2007 Member, Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)
2007 Interim Chair, Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)
2006-2007 Member, Search Committee for the Dean of the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
2005-2007 Member, Information Technology Committee, Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

University of Colorado Health Sciences Center

1999-2003 Member, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

Mentoring:

Florida State University

Internship Mentor for Michael Sutton, Venture Consulting class at the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship (2012)

University of Colorado Denver and Health Sciences Center

PhD Thesis Committee Member for Erin Spiegel, Human Medical Genetics Program (2000-2007)
PhD Thesis Committee Member for Aaron Knox, Human Medical Genetics Program (2000-2007)

University of Denver

Research Project Mentor for Lisa Fischer, Department of Biological Sciences (2007)
Research Project Mentor for Anandi Ramaswami, Department of Biological Sciences (2007)
MS Thesis Advisor for Anna Andrianakos, Department of Biological Sciences (2006-2007)
Research Project Mentor for Adam Aterberry, Department of Biological Sciences (2004)
Research Project Mentor for Lisa Foley, Department of Biological Sciences (2004)

University of Washington, St. Louis

Summer Internship Mentor for Jessica Alspaugh, Department of Bioengineering (2006)

Publications:

Fogleman JC, Trilk S, Yackley A, Westring C, Forbes S, Lumsden T, Kunst CB (2011) Fine Mapping of an Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Modifier Locus to a Single BAC . WebmedCentral GENETICS. 2(7): WMC002044.
Heiman-Patterson TD, Sher RB, Blankenhorn EA, Alexander G, Deitch JS, Kunst CB, Maragakis N, and Cox G (2011) Effect of genetic background on phenotype variability in transgenic mouse models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A window of opportunity in the search for genetic modifiers. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. 12(2): 79-86.
Kawamata H, Magrané J, Kunst C, King MP, and Manfredi G (2008) Lysyl-tRNA Synthetase Is a Target for Mutant SOD1 Toxicity in Mitochondria. Journal of Biological Chemistry 283(42): 28321-28328.
Kunst CB (2004) Complex Genetics of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. American Journal of Human Genetics 75: 933-947
Kunst CB and Patterson D (2002) Superoxide Dismutases. Wiley Encyclopedia of Molecular Medicine. Vol 5 p. 3059-3061.
Kunst CB. A Tale of Two Modifiers: How some genes affect the expression of neurological disease phenotypes. November 2001. http://www.sciencemag.org/feature/plus/sfg/articles/11_02kunst.shtml
Kunst CB, Messer L, Gordon J, Haines J and Patterson D (2000) Genetic mapping of a mouse modifier gene that can prevent ALS onset. Genomics 70: 181-189
Schmidt P, Kunst C, Culotta VC (2000) Copper activation of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) in vivo: Role for protein-protein interactions with the copper chaperone for SOD1. Journal of Biological Chemistry 275: 33771-33776.
Gunter C, Paradee W, Crawford DC, Meadows KA, Newman J, Kunst CB, Nelson DL, Schwartz C, Murray A; Macpherson JN; Sherman SL and Warren ST (1998) Reexamination of factors associated with expansion of CGG repeats using a single nucleotide polymorphism in FMR1. Human Molecular Genetics-7(12):1935- 1946
Kunst CB, Leeflang EP, Iber JC, Arnheim N and Warren ST (1997) The effect of FMR1 CGG repeat interruptions on mutation frequency as measured by sperm typing. Journal of Medical Genetics 38: 627- 631.
Kunst CB, Mezey E, Brownstein MJ and Patterson D (1997) Mutations in SOD1 associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cause novel protein interactions. Nature Genetics 15: 91-95.
Kunst CB, Zerylnick C, Karickhoff L, Eichler E, Bullard J, Chalifoux M, Holden JJJA, Torroni A, Nelson DL and Warren ST (1996) FMR1 in global populations. American Journal of Human Genetics 58:513-522.
Eichler EE, Kunst CB, Lugenbeel KA, Ryder OA, Davison D, Warren ST and Nelson DL (1995) Evolution of the cryptic FMR1 CGG repeat. Nature Genetics 11: 301-308.
van den Ouweland AMW, Dellen WH, Kunst CB, Uzeilli M-LG, Nelson DL, Warren ST, Oostra BA and Halley DJ (1994) Loss of mutation at the FMR1 locus through multiple exchanges between maternal X chromosomes. Human Molecular Genetics 3: 1823-1827.
Kunst CB and Warren ST (1994) Cryptic and polar variation of the fragile X repeat could result in predisposing normal alleles. Cell 77: 853-861.
Gorlin JB, Warren ST, Kunst CB, D’Urso M, Palmieri G, Henske E, Hartwig JH, Bruns G and Kwiatkowski DJ (1993) Actin-binding protein (ABP-280) filamin gene (FLN) maps telomeric to the color vision locus (R/GCP) and centromeric to G6PD in Xq28. Genomics 17: 496-497.
Ashley CT, Sutcliffe JS, Kunst CB, Leiner HL, Eichler EE, Nelson DL and Warren ST. (1993). Human and murine FMR-1: alternative splicing and translational initiation downstream of the CGG-repeat. Nature Genetics 4: 244- 251.
Verkerk AMJH, Pieretti M, Sutcliffe JS, Fu Y-H, Kuhl DPA, Pizzuti A, Reiner O, Richards S, Victoria MF, Zhang F, Eussen BE, van Ommen G-JB, Blonden LAJ, Riggins GJ, Chastain JL, Kunst CB, Galjaard H, Caskey CT, Nelson DL, Oostra BA and Warren ST (1991) Identification of a gene (FMR-1) containing a CGG repeat coincident with a breakpoint cluster region exhibiting length variation in fragile X syndrome. Cell 65: 905-914.
Kunst C, Kliegman R and Trinidade C (1989) The glucose-galactose paradox in neonatal murine hepatic glycogen synthesis. American Journal of Physiology 257 (Endrocrinol. Metab. 20): E697-E703.

Presentations:

Kunst CB. Moderator, Universities Embrace Entrepreneurism, 2013 Rocky Mountain Entrepreneurial Summit, Denver, CO
Kunst CB. Panelist, Entrepreneurship, High Tech Ventures and Quality Jobs, 2011 Symposium I: Florida High Tech Jobs and Economic Development, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
Kunst CB. Panelist, Technology Transfer Tales, 2011 Licensing Executives Society (LES) Florida Chapter Meeting, Florida A & M University, Tallahassee, FL
Kunst CB. Panelist, Career Orientation Session, 2011 Gordon-Kenan Research Seminar on Oxidative Stress and Disease, Ventura, CA
Kunst CB. Panelist, CEO Leadership Roundtable, 2009 Downtown Denver Leadership Roundtable, Downtown Denver Partnership
Kunst CB. Panelist, Making Institutional Service part of YOUR Plan, 2009 CU Women Succeeding: Sixth Annual Faculty Development Symposium, University of Colorado.
Kunst CB. Entrepreneurship in the Academic Environment. Invited Speaker 2008 HERS Institute, Denver, CO.
Kunst CB. Modifier Genes in Animal Models. Invited Speaker 2002 Environmental Factors and Genetic Susceptibility in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
Kunst CB, Messer L, Gordon J, Haines JL and Patterson D. Genetic mapping of a modifier gene that delays ALS onset in a transgenic mouse model. Presented at the 2000 annual meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics.
Kunst CB. Genetic Mapping of ALS modifier genes in the mouse. Invited Speaker 2000 ALS Association Young Investigator Workshop.
Kunst CB, Patterson D and Brennan MB. Suppression of chromosome 21 gene expression using antisense oligonucleotides. Presented at the 7th International Workshop on Chromosome 21.
Kunst CB, Johnson R, Kupfer H, Kupfer A, Gordon J and Patterson D. Aberrant cellular localization of mutant SOD1 associated with ALS. Presented at the 1997 annual meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics.
Kunst CB, Brownstein M and Patterson D. ALS causing mutations in SOD-1 generate novel protein interactions. Presented at the 1996 annual meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics.
Kunst CB, Karickhoff L, Zerylnick C, Holden J, Nelson DL, Sherman SL and Warren ST. Identification of Two polymorphic loci near FMR-1 and demonstration of marked linkage disequilibrium within normal and between abnormal CGG-repeat lengths. Presented at the 1993 annual meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics.
Kunst CB, Henske E, Harwig JH, Kwiatkowski DJ, D’Urso M, Bruns G, Warren ST and Gorlin JB. The dystrophin-like actin binding protein 280 gene maps between DXS52 and G6PD overlapping the Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy locus. Presented at the 1992 annual meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics.
Kunst C, Kliegman R, Gerken T and Jentoft J. 13C evidence of direct incorporation of galactose for neonatal hepatic glycogen synthesis. Presented at the 1988 annual meeting of the Society for Pediatric Research.
Kunst C, Kliegman R and Trinidade C. The galactose-glucose paradox in neonatal murine hepatic glycogen synthesis. Presented at the 1987 annual meeting of the Society for Pediatric Research.
Kunst C, Kliegman R and Trinidade C. The glycogen synthesis glucose paradox in newborn rats. Presented at the 1987 annual meeting of the Society for Pediatric Research.