UPDATED 11:49 a.m.
PEORIA, Ill. — Peoria Bio-Made, launched by biotech entrepreneur and Peoria native Jake Becraft in 2020, has selected Vivian Standifird, a senior financial executive, and wife of Bradley University President Stephen Standifird, as its first executive director.
Standifird’s position with Peoria Bio-Made was made possible by a launch grant from the Gilmore Foundation.
Standifird will initially serve Peoria Bio-Made in a limited pro bono capacity until she assumes the position formally on January 1st.
Becraft says the move will mean Peoria Bio-Made can now really take off.
“[Standifird is a] boots-on-the-ground, well-connected community leader to really pick up the ball and run this initiative forward,” said Beacraft.
As executive director of Peoria Bio-Made, Standifird will build on Becraft’s vision and work with a local stakeholder group led by the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council.
“Right now we’re focused on building out the materials that we’ll use to actually attract new economic opportunities, new commercial enterprises, in bio-manufacturing, to Peoria,” said Beacraft.
An early outcome of the Standifird’s efforts will be a comprehensive plan for building a clinical-grade biomanufacturing facility in Peoria’s Warehouse District.
“We could not have imagined a better person for the executive director position. Vivian (Standifird) is a CPA, worked as the CFO for an Indianapolis Medical Device company, and has previous experience working in the manufacturing industry. She is the ideal candidate around which the Peoria Bio-Made initiative will grow and thrive long into the future,” Becraft said.
