EDITOR’S NOTE: This content is from a press release distributed by Georgia Bio.

ATLANTA — Jim Heitner, founder and president of Ripple Management, has been named the 2011 Emerging Leader of the Year by Georgia Bio (GaBio). He will be honored at the GaBio Annual Awards Dinner January 20 at The Fox Theatre in Atlanta.

The Emerging Leader of the Year award honors young professionals for outstanding contributions to the success of the Emerging Leaders Network (ELN) and the growth of Georgia’s life sciences community. The award winner is selected by a panel of seasoned industry leaders acting as advisors to the ELN.

Jim Heitner founded Ripple Management (www.ripplemgmt.com) in 2009 as a for profit consulting company specializing in commercialization of new life science technology and innovations from basic research and discovery.  The company builds on comprehensive insight and experiences in technology and patent licensing, venture development, and seed and early stage investing.

Heitner previously was a principal with Georgia Venture Partners (GVP) where he was involved in all aspects of the fund’s investment activities, which included advising the ATDC Bioscience Seed Capital Fund.  Prior to joining GVP, he held technology licensing positions and was responsible for negotiating many deals at Emory University, Cornell University, University of Georgia and Paradigm Genetics Inc. of Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Heitner has been an active member in GaBio and the ELN since 2005.  Currently he is the Public Relations Chair for the ELN and serves on many committees in the bioscience community.  He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Georgia and an MBA from Emory University.

Click here for a list of past awards recipients.

The Emerging Leaders Network (ELN), a division of Georgia Bio is devoted to promoting networking between emerging and established professionals within the Georgia Life Sciences Community. ELN’s programs are designed to facilitate the growth and development of Georgia based biotechnology academic institutions, industries and service providers. A goal of ELN is to retain and cultivate locally educated talent, as well as to welcome and integrate new members to the Georgia biotechnology community. In pursuit of these goals, ELN provides opportunities for developing industry contacts, mentoring, and career enhancement through a variety of programs.