Tom Thornton
President and Chief Executive Officer
Kansas Bioscience Authority

In November of 2006, Tom Thornton became the first president and chief executive officer of the Kansas Bioscience Authority (KBA), where he leads the effort to stimulate growth in bioscience research and business in Kansas through the investment of approximately $580 million generated by the Kansas Economic Growth Act.

Mr. Thornton previously served as president and chief executive officer of the Illinois Technology Development Alliance, establishing it as one of the most respected technology development organizations in the country. He was the senior vice president for Convergent Technology Group, a Seattle-based mergers and acquisitions advisory services firm, and managing partner for divine interVentures, an early-stage venture investment fund. Early in his career, Mr. Thornton served as director of policy for U.S. Rep. J. Dennis Hastert, former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Mr. Thornton earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.