Student job shops at BIO 2006

By Jim Stafford
The Oklahoman

CHICAGO - When Mike Steele wandered into the Oklahoma exhibition booth at the BIO 2006 meeting here Tuesday, the identification badge he wore sparked more than a few second glances.

BIO 2006 notebook

It read "University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK."

Turns out that Steele is a 29-year-old senior biomedical engineering major at UCO who wanted to explore the job opportunities offered by the growing biotech industry.

So, he registered online for a BIO exhibition hall pass and flew to Chicago to see it for himself. According to the BIO Web site, an exhibition hall pass costs $375.

"I can't say I know exactly why I'm here," Steele said after introducing himself to Roger Lias, vice president for sales and business development for Cytovance Biologics in Oklahoma City. "I wanted to see what companies are out here."

Steele said he was there accumulating material from companies in which he had an interest so that after graduation he would have a list from which to prospect. He has mapped out his career plans and wants to work in industry, eventually earn a doctorate and someday teach.

Steele transferred to UCO from Oklahoma City Community College, changed his major and still needs almost two years of courses to graduate. There are challenges beyond academics.

"I've got kids and a dog and a mortgage and a car payment," he said.

And a full-time job with the Oklahoma City-based Web hosting company Catalog.com.

So, encouraged by his wife, Steele rearranged his class schedule and flew to Chicago.

Before moving on from the Oklahoma booth, Steele met Chuck Seeney, chief executive officer of Edmond-based Nanobiomagnetics and Tom Kupiec, chief executive officer at DNA Solutions and Analytic Laboratories at the Presbyterian Health Foundation Research Park.

Seeney told Steele that he had hit the biotech jackpot with his investment in the BIO meeting.

"If you want to see anything from biotech in the world, this is it," Seeney said. "I congratulate you (for coming to the meeting). That takes a lot of interest, a lot of guts."

Kupiec was so impressed that he offered Steele a job, contingent upon the UCO senior making the much shorter trip down to the Research Park after everyone has returned to Oklahoma.

"I'm impressed because he was so willing to take the initiative, that he would potentially be a good employee," Kupiec said.

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