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Startup Programming Team

The VelocityTX team represents knowledgeable, collaborative, and innovative-driven professionals committed to helping bioscience companies bring their products to market.

Patti Geppert, PhD.
Director of Innovation

Derek Drozd
Director of Operations

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Kaitlyn Bloch
Programs Coordinator

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Leadership & Support Team

Executive Leadership

Rene Dominguez, Chief Executive Officer
Rick Hernandez, Chief Financial Officer
Jessica L. Harris, Chief Operating Officer

Finance & Accounting

Rubie S. Garcia, CPA, Director of Accounting
Anita Moreno-Navarro, Senior Accountant
Rosanna Norona, Senior Accountant

Administration

Brian Peters, Director of Marketing and Communications
Carissa L. Costello, Administrative Services Manager

Facilities

Gustavo A. Hurtado, Director of Construction
Eduardo (Eddie) De Luna, Facilities Manager
Abel Hernandez, Maintenance Technician

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Derek Drozd

Director of Operations

Derek Drozd serves as the Director of Operations for VelocityTX.  Before joining VelocityTX, Derek worked as the Chief Operating Officer at Fastest Labs. He has a background in medical device sales and worked for global leaders including Medtronic and Stryker. He founded a startup called Mobile Fit Pros during college and successfully sold the company.

Derek graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration and earned a Master of Business Administration from TAMU-CC. Derek won multiple pitch competitions and was a recognized leader in the college community. He was the Founder and President of the TAMU-CC Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO), Treasurer of the Golden Key International Honour Society, and recipient of the Nationally Engaged Leader Award (NELA). 

Kaitlyn Bloch

Programs Coordinator

Kaitlyn Bloch serves as programs coordinator for VelocityTX. In this role, Kaitlyn is responsible for the day-to-day management of VelocityTX mentoring and coaching programs and the CEO Roundtable series. Before joining VelocityTX, she worked for The Learning Company and the Meadow’s Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, where she developed and implemented entrepreneurial support programs, workshops, and events. Kaitlyn holds a bachelor’s in management from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, TX. 

Incubator Program

The Incubator Program is designed to scale early-stage bioscience companies by providing long-term support and includes office and meeting space, access to industry experts, mentors, and more.

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CEO Roundtable

The CEO Roundtable is an exclusive membership program that brings together executives from non-competing bioscience and healthcare companies to foster innovation, collaboration, and connections.

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