Serving the needs of the biotech community means a lot more than providing the best business location. At TCN, the goal is to provide a strategic partnership that involves community collaboration and high-end consulting to help biotech companies succeed in their local markets.
      Ross Ford, President and CEO of TCN Worldwide, commented, "One of the core strengths of all the TCN Members is a high degree of local knowledge and involvement in the local community. As a result, we are uniquely situated to assist firms in finding the right location and access to the knowledge based workers they need in fields such as biotech." He added, "Whether it was the 'Internet boom' of the last decade or the biotech boom of today and tomorrow, our member firms, such as Tucson Realty & Trust Co., Sutton & Edwards, and The Howard Group, are leaders within their market and are the best choice to meet your unique needs."
      At the local level, the expertise of TCN Worldwide member firms shows up in a myriad of ways. Herbert S. Agin, Chief Executive Officer of Sutton & Edwards Inc./TCN Worldwide, explained the role played by his firm in the Long Island area. Long Island, traditionally known as a "tech island," has become a focal point of biotechnology. Two bioscience parks — one at Stony Brook University and the second, Broadhollow Bioscience Park at Farmingdale State University — have the ability to nurture and develop life science companies. The Bioscience Park is a collaboration between the college and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, a world renowned research institution.
      Sutton & Edwards has been a strong advocate to build biosciences into the region's next growth industry. "As part of the effort, we successfully secured for OSI Pharmaceuticals a new headquarters facility," said Agin. "Currently, OSI is the anchor tenant at the Bioscience Park. The expansion affords the company growth in a geographic area that can support its need for well-trained workers. Other major pharmaceutical firms are Forest Laboratories, Enzo Biochem and ICON Laboratories, which create the cluster important in attracting more talent and financing."

Hank Amos, CEO and owner of Tucson Realty & Trust Co./TCN Worldwide

      In Tucson, Ariz., another TCN Worldwide member firm capitalizes on the region's strengths to support the needs of growing biotech companies. Hank Amos, CEO and owner of Tucson Realty & Trust Co./TCN Worldwide, said, "Because of Tucson Realty & Trust Co.'s relationship with the University of Arizona, we can facilitate and develop ties to research, development and collaboration in addition to the standard fare of real estate services we provide for leasing and sale requirements. Besides our number one ranking in Ranking Arizona magazine, published by Arizona Business Magazine, no other firm has the depth of relationships in the city and state, both from a business standpoint and political standpoint, than Tucson Realty & Trust Co. Furthermore, Eileen Walker, CCIM, an office specialist with our firm, is a former executive director of the Arizona State University Research Park. Eileen's knowledge, experience and understanding of biotech firms' needs and requirements and ability to place that are second to none."
      Amos, who is additionally the former president of the Arizona Board of Regents that oversees the state's three major universities (University of Arizona, Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University), noted that the inherent strengths of this region for biotech include a thriving existing biotech cluster, ample university research, commitment to tech transfer, skilled work force, job training funds, low costs of doing business, great logistics infrastructure and convenient access to international markets.
      Many of these same assets exist in the region surrounding Albany, N.Y. Continuing as the seat of state government; the greater Albany area (now referred to as "Tech Valley") is home to 22 biotech companies employing thousands in the region. Opportunities continue to emerge focused around public/private partnerships in an environment of high-tech industries that enjoy the low cost of living and abundant recreational and educational facilities within the region.

Howard Carr, President of The Howard Group/TCN Worldwide

      Howard Carr, President of The Howard Group/TCN Worldwide stated, "The highly qualified work force, combined with continued growth in the fields of semiconductor research, nanotechnology, alternative energy, software development and biotechnology, continue to make the region a place of choice for emerging companies. With more than 16 colleges and universities, and commitments of more than $2.5 billion in terms of facilities and programs from these institutions, the region boasts a future of continued growth for biotech companies."
      TCN Worldwide prides itself on developing long-term strategic partnerships not only to address their clients' facility needs but also their success as a business. Neil Siderow, Chairman of TCN Worldwide, said, "All of our firms, as strong members of the local community, are entwined with their local colleges and universities. In addition, on a national basis we foster broad-based relationships so we can recruit the best young talent into our fields. These relationships give us the ability to match clients with the location and culture that will help make them more successful as well."