John F. "Jack" Sharp

Jack Sharp served as President and CEO of the Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana from 1995 to 2013. The Foundation is a private, non-profit organization whose mission is to pioneer a knowledge-based regional economy by cultivating and attracting life science enterprises and related technologies. Mr. Sharp oversaw a staff of 44 and under his leadership raised in excess of approximately $210 million, had gross assets of $88 million and an annual budget of$ 13 million. The principal areas of focus for the Foundation are to promote and develop: 

► Private and public support and collaboration for a knowledge-based economic development strategy,

► InterTech Parle as a suitable physical environment for life science enterprises and related technologies,

► Capacities and accomplishments, in collaboration with and support, of LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport,

► Human resources and the regional knowledge base via K-12, higher education and technical/professional training programs, and

► Support and resources for technology and business innovation, with people, research, facilities, and funding.

Prior to his Foundation work, Mr. Sharp was a founding partner in Snelling Personnel Services in Shreveport, a position he held from 1989 until joining the Foundation in 1995.

From 1976 through 1989, Mr. Shaip served in a variety of positions with Rucker Pharmacal/Boots 

Pharmaceuticals in Shreveport. His last position with Boots was Vice President of Corporate Development and General Manager of Shreveport operations. In this capacity he split time between corporate offices in Lincolnshire, IL and Shreveport. He was responsible for the acquisition of three products, and was a member of the acquisition team that purchased Flint Laboratories from Baxter-Travenol Corporation in 1987. 

From 1967 until 1976, Mr. Shaip served in sales and sales management positions with Merrell-National Laboratories in Abilene and Houston, TX and in New York City, NY.

In 1997, Mr. Sharp led the creation of the Louisiana Center for Manufacturing Sciences with consortium members Aerojet, the Biomedical Research Foundation, Extrude Hone, General Motors Powertrain, and Raytheon. Mr. Sharp served as the President for the Committee of One Hundred. He is also a member of several state and local economic development boards, and from 1999 to 2010 was the Governor's appointee to the Southern Growth Policy Board. He also served on the Southern Governor's Association Science & 

Technology Task Force, where he served as chair of the Technology Commercialization committee. He is 

a member of the Rotary Club of Shreveport and a Paul Harris Fellow. 

Mr. Sharp is a past Campaign Chairman of the United Way of Northwest Louisiana, past president and board member of the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, and past chair of the Shreveport Bossier Business 

Alliance for Higher Education. 

In 2022, Mr. Sharp began serving as Executive Director of the Committee of One Hundred, Inc. in Shreveport. He is married with three children and three grandchildren.