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Keynote Speakers

Carol Ammon unfortunately cannot make our Keynote Address due to a family emergency. We are pleased to announce Alan Levin an extraordinary healthcare entrepreneur and recently nominated Director of the Delaware Economic Development Office as our Keynote Speaker.

Alan B. Levin served as President, CEO and majority owner of Happy Harry’s, the tenth largest drugstore chain in the United States, until it was acquired by the Walgreen Company in July, 2006. During his tenure, he grew revenues tenfold to nearly half a billion dollars, 76 locations and 2,700 employees. With stores in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Happy Harry’s became one of the area’s largest employers. As a member of the community, Happy Harry’s believed that it was their obligation to give back to the areas it serves. As a result of this philosophy, Happy Harry’s gave to hundreds of different causes yearly in its trading area. Mr. Levin is also the Founding Partner of Innovation Capital Partners, a later-stage growth equity venture capital firm.

In December of 2008, Mr. Levin was nominated by the Governor-Elect of the State of Delaware, Jack Markell, to serve as the Director of Economic Development where he will serve as a Secretary in the Governor’s cabinet responsible for the business and economic strategies for the State of Delaware. Under this role, Mr. Levin will be focused among other areas in the technology, life science, and venture capital business sectors and activities for Delaware. During this tenure, Mr. Levin will take a leave of absence from his role as Founding Partner of Innovation Capital Partners.

Mr. Levin led a distinguished career at Happy Harry’s, and within the industry, resulted in his being a recipient of the 2006 Ronald L. Ziegler Lifetime Achievement Award and being named Retailer of the Year 1999 by the trade publication Chain Drug Review. And, for his work to assist the families of the National Guard and Reserve who have been called to active duty during Operations Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom, he is the recipient of the Delaware Distinguished Service Medal from the Adjutant General for the State of Delaware.

He is an active member of the region’s entrepreneurial community and has co-invested with Innovation Ventures in such companies as Centice Corporation (board member) and Skill Survey. He also serves on the Board of Directors of A. Duie Pyle and McNeill Designs for Brighter Minds. He teaches Corporate Communications at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Levin is a graduate of Tulane University and the Delaware Law School of Widener University. A member of the Delaware Bar, he served in the Delaware Department of Justice as a Deputy Attorney General and as Executive Assistant and Counsel to U.S. Senator William V. Roth, Jr. Mr. Levin is involved in numerous civic and corporate activities throughout Delaware and the Nation. Most notably, in 2001, he completed a term as Chairman of the National Association of Chain Drug stores. This organization, based in Washington, D.C., directs the lobbying and professional activities for the industry. Additionally, Mr. Levin is a past member of the Board of Directors of the United States Chamber of Commerce. He is a former Chairman of the Board of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Board’s of Wesley College and the American Red Cross of Delmarva. He serves as an Advisory Board member of Delaware State University School of Business and the University of Delaware’s Lerner College of Business and Economics.