DENVER/July 26, 2018 – Morris Animal Foundation welcomes two business leaders, Vern Norviel, an attorney, and Bill Sutherland, a marketing executive at a global technology company, to its Board of Directors. Norviel and Sutherland joined the Board at the Foundation’s annual meeting in June.
Norviel is a partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where he leads the patents and innovation counseling practice. Norviel brings to the board three decades of experience working with life science companies and the development of intellectual property programs. His experience ranges from working with companies and venture capital firms in areas of therapeutics, diagnostics, nanotechnology, genomics, proteomics and personalized medicine to lecturer in biotechnology law at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law.
“I have an intense interest in personalized medicine which prompted me to become the first attorney to have his or her entire genome sequenced and made available in a public database,” Norviel said. “As an animal lover and pet owner, I believe personalized medicine also will greatly improve the veterinary care of animals.”
Before joining the Board, Norviel provided the Foundation with pro bono legal work, including contract and intellectual property review and counseling. His interaction with the executive team and Board members provided Norviel with an up-close overview of the Foundation’s work to improve the lives of animals.
“I’ve helped many life science companies advance products to the market,” Norviel said. “It’s a difficult process in both animals and humans. I am hoping I can be a catalyst to help translate the research in animal health into real solutions to help animals.”
Bill Sutherland is the Director of Worldwide Marketing Operations at an international technology company in based in Silicon Valley. His 27-year business career includes medical research, healthcare field consulting and marketing leadership.
Sutherland became acquainted with the Foundation through a friend who had enrolled his golden retriever in the Morris Animal Foundation Golden Retriever Lifetime Study, a prospective study of more than 3,000 golden retrievers investigating risk factors for cancer and other diseases in dogs.
Sutherland’s experience in architecting and analyzing large data models will help provide insight into the data generated by the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study. He also will lend his expertise in marketing to help spread the word about the Foundation’s mission.
“I have always been a huge animal lover and, like many kids, had even considered pursuing a career as a veterinarian,” Sutherland said. “My father spent his life in the field of cancer research and I was able to gain a firsthand appreciation of the value of basic research in making a meaningful impact in the treatment of such insidious diseases. I see Morris Animal Foundation at the intersection of my love of all animals and my appreciation for the great benefits of the thoughtful, well-directed basic research performed by the world-class scientists that the organization funds and supports.”
“We are honored to welcome both Vern Norviel and Bill Sutherland to Morris Animal Foundation’s Board of Directors,” said Tiffany Grunert, Acting President and CEO, and Vice President of Marketing and Operations at Morris Animal Foundation. “Their combined knowledge and expertise will help guide our mission so we can advance the health of animals around the world.”
About Morris Animal Foundation
Morris Animal Foundation’s mission is to bridge science and resources to advance the health of animals. Founded by a veterinarian in 1948, we fund and conduct critical health studies for the benefit of all animals. Learn more at morrisanimalfoundation.org.
