Patrick J. Balthrop, Sr. is the founding principal of Apalachee Ventures, LLC. He has over 30 years of experience building, growing and turning around businesses and commercial enterprises around the world, including as CEO of a publicly-traded company. His experience is global in nature, including commercial optimization, product launches, international assignments and technology and R & D leadership, primarily in the life sciences, including the highly regulated industries of medical devices and diagnostics.

Pat and the firm currently have a variety of ventures underway. The firm has current advisory relationships with the private equity firms Water Street Healthcare Partners and AEA Investors.

Pat is a demonstrated thought leader in the life sciences, healthcare and medical device industries. He is currently on the board of directors of several companies: Pat serves as the Chairman of the Board of Agendia, NV, based in Amsterdam and Irvine, CA. Agendia's proprietary genomic assay technology analyzes the DNA signature of tumors to assist health care teams to determine the course of breast cancer treatment; Pat serves as a Director of Discovery Life Sciences, the life science industry's premier provider of research services and biospecimen solutions; he serves as Chairman of the Board of Pattern Bioscience, whose Digital Culture technology addresses the clinical need for fast and accurate diagnosis of antibiotic susceptibility and resistance; Pat serves as an independent director of MaxCyte, Inc., (NASDAQ: MXCT), a pioneer in cell engineering technology in cell and gene therapy; he serves as an independent director of Ascential Technologies, formerly Burke Porter Group, a product innovation, development and manufacturing company in the advanced manufacturing, advanced vehicle test and medical and life science sectors; Pat also serves on the board of trustees of The Nature Conservancy Florida, a global environmental organization, serving as chair of the governance and nominating committee 2017-2022 and elected Chairman of the Board of Trustees for a three year term in 2022.

Pat served as Chairman of the Board of Oxford Immunotec PLC (NASDAQ: OXFD), an immune-mediated disease diagnostics company, through its sale to Perkin Elmer, Inc. in 2021; he also served on the board of Personalis, Inc. (NASDAQ: PSNL), a firm that is pioneering the use of the human exome and genome in immuno-oncology, from 2015 through the company’s 2019 IPO until 2021; The firm is an investor in, and from 2020 to 2023 Pat served as a director of, Oyster City Brewing Company, an award-winning craft beer company. Pat served as a director of ChromaCode, a software, bioinformatics and reagent technology company pioneering the integration of biochemistry and computational mathematics.

Pat was CEO, President and a member of the board of directors of Luminex Corporation (NASDAQ: LMNX) from 2004 to 2014. During his ten year tenure, the company grew revenues at double-digit compounded rates and sales increased more than eight fold. During this period, gross margins improved by 3,000 basis points and the company transitioned from a loss position in 2004 to sector-leading levels of profitability. During Pat's tenure the company was recognized for its outstanding revenue growth and financial performance by organizations such as Forbes, Fortune and Ernst & Young.  The firm's excellence in science, engineering, technology and design was also recognized with awards such as the prestigious Prix Galien Award and the Medical Device Design Excellence award.

Prior to Luminex, from 2002 to 2004 Pat was President of Fisher Healthcare, the medical products division of Fisher Scientific. From 1981 to 2002 he enjoyed a 20 year career at Abbott in clinical diagnostics and medical devices, with his last two positions being the head of worldwide diagnostic operations and head of Abbott Vascular. His track record and experience includes general management, innovation and R&D leadership, worldwide sales, marketing and customer service, international experience as an expatriate in Asia, as well as extensive experience in intellectual property, regulated products and markets, manufacturing and supply chain.

Pat has an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management of Northwestern University. His undergraduate studies were at Princeton University and Spring Hill College. He earned a BS in Biology from Spring Hill.

 

 
Patrick J. Balthrop, Sr.

Patrick J. Balthrop, Sr.

Experience and expertise

  • Corporate governance and board leadership

  • CEO consulting and general management of complex businesses

  • Successful leadership of businesses in transition to maximize value and profit

  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion leadership

  • Strategic partnership development that leverages expertise to deliver growth and value for all parties

  • International sales and marketing excellence and new product introductions

  • New product development and customer-driven R&D

  • "Tone at the Top" programs to assure regulatory and corporate compliance

  • Segment domain expertise includes life science research and tools, in vitro diagnostics, molecular diagnostics, medical devices, and others

 

  • Boards of Directors, Current

    • Chairman, Agendia

    • Director, Discovery Life Sciences

    • Chairman, Pattern Bioscience

    • Director, MaxCyte (NASDAQ: MXCT)

    • Director, Ascential Technologies

  • Boards of Directors, Former

    • Chairman, Oxford Immunotec Global (NASDAQ: OXFD); 2015 - 2021 (acquired by Perkin Elmer 2021)

    • Director, Personalis (NASDAQ: PSNL); 2016 - 2021 (2019 IPO)

    • Director, Oyster City Brewing Company, 2020 - 2023

    • Director, ChromaCode, 2021-2022.

    • Director, CEO & President, Luminex (NASDAQ: LMNX); 2004 - 2014

  • Boards, Non-profit

    • Trustee, Nature Conservancy FL 2016 - present

    • Director, Howard Brown Health Center, 1998-2006

  • Advisory

    • Water Street Healthcare Partners

    • AEA Investors

    • Wiregrass Equity Partners