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MetroWest495 Biz | May 2015 13 10 TO WATCH T here is a science to the work of Harvard Bioscience CEO Jeffrey Duchemin. And acquisitions are an important part of the formula. Duchemin has been with Harvard Bioscience since 2013, coming from Corning Life Sciences, where he was global business director. He spent 16 years with Becton Dickinson in progressive sales, marketing and executive leader - ship positions across the three business segments. Duchemin has an MBA from Southern New Hampshire University in Hooksett. Two acquisitions were completed last fall by the life science equipment and instrument manufacturing company. Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH, of Germany; and Triangle BioSystems Inc. of Durham, N.C., were competitors who were unaware that the other company was being acquired by Harvard Bioscience as well. "(They were) acquired on the same day," said Duchemin, also the company president, who has spent more than two decades in the life sciences and research industry. "We knew the two companies would complement each other; they just happened to be competitive." Duchemin said both firms were "very surprised" when the acquisitions were announced. Harvard Bioscience further spurred its growth in the electrophysiology market this past January, with the acquisition of HEKA Electronik of Germany, expected to bring $4 million to $5 million in additional revenue. The company's revenue was at $30.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2014 — a 9-percent increase over Q4 of 2013 — and a company record. Electrophysiology is the study of electric activity in the body. "We sell equipment that can translate information … measuring electrical impulses of cells," and is sold to researchers, said Duchemin. "I ventured … into life sciences because we can ultimately impact a human, change a life," Duchemin said, of those with conditions such as dementia, seizures and epilepsy. Duchemin welcomes the challenges. "It's competitive, globally, maybe the highest of any industry," he said. Growth will continue, he says, with reinvigorated R&D, mergers and acquisitions, and added opera - tional efficiencies. "We've added jobs where life sciences is grow- ing. For example, in China today we have five sales and marketing people," where there was previously just one, he said. Twenty to 25 new employees will be added to the 100 or so that work at the Holliston facility by the end of this year, according to Duchemin. "The great thing is, it's constantly moving. Innovation is how we exist, it's how we grow." n JEFFREY DUCHEMIN President and CEO, Harvard Bioscience T hose who think they've worked in an industry for too long to try something new should take notes from Siobhan Bohnson, president and CEO of the Milford Area Chamber of Commerce and a veteran of the banking industry. Bohnson, who was hired last year to succeed former CEO Barry Feingold, said she's still not quite sure how she ended up as the head of a chamber. But after decades in business development roles at area banks —with occasional interludes elsewhere — Bohnson said it's been a breath of fresh air. "It has enhanced my professional career and it's given me an opportunity to run a business without my name being first," said Bohnson, a resident of West Boylston, where she's also a selectwoman. Bohnson was encouraged by a colleague to apply for the job, despite the fact that she had never worked for a cham- ber of commerce. She was selected after a lengthy interview process, including an initial phone interview that Bohnson remembers as the most difficult part. That's probably because she prefers face-to-face interactions, which, of course, are key in any business development role. And whether it's banking or nonprofit leadership, Bohnson said the same rules apply. Since joining the chamber, Bohnson has worked to reinvigorate the membership by adding educational offerings that are particularly useful to small-business owners, such as seminars on new state laws af- fecting employers. The chamber also launched a boot camp for small businesses, a program in which experts from various fields provide practical advice to small-business owners on all facets of operations. At around 500 members, Bohnson hopes this will boost membership for the Milford Area Chamber. "I think right now, we're concentrating on giving our members the support and the connections that will enhance their business," said Bohnson, who earned a bachelor's degree in business from Fitch- burg State University. Leadership has also grown under Bohnson; Since her arrival, the chamber has added three mem- bers to the board of directors, now comprised of 17 local business leaders from organizations of all sizes. Bohnson said the idea is to broaden the collective perspective of the board on issues that are important to local businesses. Bohnson also brings her own perspective on running a small business to the job: she used to run her own local maternity boutique, with stores in West Boylston and Worcester, in the 1990s. Finally, Bohnson has strived to enhance the chamber's community giving programs, perhaps most notably its scholarship fund. In partnership with Milford-based companies Waters Corp. and Baxter Corp., the chamber will award seven $1,000 scholarships to local students this year, compared with just one in the past. "I've always believed in giving back to the community," Bohnson said. "I think it assists us in growing, and it assists the community in growing." n SIOBHAN BOHNSON President and CEO, Milford Area Chamber of Commerce

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