Who We Are
OUR FOUNDER AND CEO
Angela Consani
Co-Founder & CEO
Angela Consani, the CEO and co-Founder of Bioscience Core Skills Institute (BCSI). She co-founded BCSI in 2020, after more than 15 years in teaching, course design, assessment, and curriculum development at the K-12 and community college level as well as nearly a decade of experience in production, manufacturing, and operations.
Angela is a nationally recognized leader in skills‑based credentialing for the life sciences workforce. With over 15 years of experience in bioscience education—from K–12 through community college—and a strong background in manufacturing and operations, she brings a rare blend of classroom insight and industry practice.
Prior to founding BCSI in 2020, Angela directed the NSF‑ATE‑funded Kansas City Kansas Biomanufacturing Training Lab (a collaboration between KCKCC and KCK Public Schools), where she built and managed pathways from high school into industry careers. Her leadership helped embed hands‑on training and performance‑based credentialing into regional bioscience education.
At a national level, Angela contributes her expertise as co‑chair of NIIMBL’s Workforce Activities Committee efforts, serves on InnovATEBio’s National Advisory Committee, and the Industry Advisory Board for the National Center for Therapeutics Manufacturing.
Brandy Jones is a dedicated National Logistics Coordinator at Bioscience Core Skills Institute (BCSI), specializing in skills assessment and credentialing within the biotechnology industry. With a strong background in marketing, design, program management, and digital credentialing, Brandy plays a key role in bridging the gap between education and workforce readiness. She is passionate about ensuring students and professionals have access to validated, industry-recognized credentials that support career advancement. Brandy’s expertise in coordinating assessments and facilitating training programs makes her an invaluable asset to BCSI and the broader biotech community.
Brandy Jones
National Logistics Coordinator
Specializing in skills assessment and credentialing within the biotechnology industry.
Kendra Christman is the Director of Operations at Bioscience Core Skills Institute (BCSI), experienced in biotechnology and non-profit spaces. With a background in workforce development, non-profit management, event management, and grant execution, Kendra plays a key role in facilitating the planning and execution of education and workforce readiness projects. They are passionate about ensuring that students and professionals have access to validated, industry-recognized credentials that support career advancement and expanding these opportunities nationwide. Kendra’s expertise in program management and workforce development makes her an invaluable asset to BCSI and the broader biotech community.
Kendra Christman
Director of Operations
Experienced in biotechnology and non-profit spaces
Stephanie VanderPas is the Director of Programs and Strategic Partnerships at Bioscience Core Skills Institute (BCSI), bringing over 18 years of experience in healthcare business development, marketing, strategic partnerships, and market expansion. Her background spans long term care programs, inpatient rehabilitation, acute care, post-acute services, and medical device sales, with a consistent record of building high-value relationships with physicians, hospital executives, case management teams, and healthcare networks.
Prior to joining BCSI in her current role, Stephanie led business development across multiple healthcare organizations in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, including the launch of a new acute rehabilitation unit and a 200 percent increase in referral-based business within a four-state region.
Stephanie’s prior work with BCSI began in 2021 as a Marketing and Branding Consultant, giving her early insight into the organization’s mission before returning to lead programs and strategic partnerships. She brings a rare combination of consultative relationship building, market development strategy, and grassroots community engagement to BCSI’s national growth, applying the same referral network and stakeholder alignment skills that drove measurable results in healthcare to expanding employer adoption and partnership networks in the bioscience workforce space.
Stephanie VanderPas
Director of Programs and Strategic Partnerships
Adept in relationship building, market development strategy, and grassroots community engagement.
Lance Hendrix is the Project Manager for AI Essentials for Biotechnology at Bioscience Core Skills Institute (BCSI), bringing more than 15 years of experience in project management, workforce development, and public-sector initiatives. His background includes national strategic planning, program management, stakeholder engagement, performance measurement, and organizational improvement, including service as a Project Manager with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
At BCSI, Lance coordinates the planning and execution of AI-focused workforce initiatives, helping build practical, scalable programs that connect emerging technology, education, and real-world biotechnology workforce needs. He is passionate about strengthening pathways between learning and industry and preparing individuals for an increasingly AI-enabled workforce.
Lance Hendrix
Project Manager AI Essentials
Dr. Ariel Parker is the Assessment Designer for the NSF-ATE-funded project AI Essentials for Biotechnology. She brings experience in program administration, K-12 teaching, and higher education to the role. She received her PhD in biology/sensory neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University. After her PhD, she spent two years as a public high school teacher in the School District of Philadelphia, developing curriculum/assessments and hosting District-wide professional development sessions for teachers.
Dr. Ariel Parker
Assessment Designer for the NSF-ATE-funded project AI Essentials for Biotechnology
Robert Bajor, Board President
Founder of Micro-credential Multiverse
"BCSI seeks to unite learning experiences with career opportunities, ensuring everyone who is passionate about the life sciences get's a fair shot at contributing to this exciting and critical area of investigation, research, and action."
Keith Gary, Board Member
Vice President of Mission Acceleration at The ALS Association
"BCSI is blazing the microcredential trail by providing students the opportunity to validate their laboratory skills while simplifying the bioscience industry's ability to hire a competent workforce. I could not pass up this ride!"
Board
of Directors
Angie Lawry, Board Vice President
Senior Vice President of Marketing & Communications at The Colorectal Cancer Alliance
"I'm inspired by the work of BCSI to champion rigorous credentialing processes that allow new talent to excel in their careers and contribute significantly to scientific advancements."
Tobias Teeter, Board Treasurer
Director of the Collaborative at The University of Arkansas
"After many years in economic development and workforce development, I was tasked to help create a biomanufacturing sector in Arkansas from scratch. Our attention shifted to workforce development and micro-credentialing. That is when I discovered BCSI and Angela’s work."
Andrew Onore, Board Secretary
Principal Account Manager at Amazon Ads
"I am a part of the BCSI community because they strive to create and multiply pathways to access and advantage for learners and employers in a critically important category."
Jared Auclair, Board Member
Dean, College of Professional Studies
"BCSI's work matters as it helps close the gap between what workers can actually do and what employers can verify — in biotech, that gap keeps talented people from getting hired and keeps companies guessing. Independently verified, skills-based credentials replace that guesswork with trust, so an employee's capabilities travel with them from employer to employer, not just a transcript."
Mark Hoffman, Board Member
Children’s Mercy
"I am excited to serve on the Board of BCSI because I believe that it is important to offer young people the opportunity to compete for jobs in the life sciences. The micro credentials programs offered by BCSI are an innovative strategy to meeting this need and I look forward to working with BCSI."
Advisory Council
Emily McVey
KC Animal Health Corridor
Erin Scholz
Labconco
Jeff Hall
Cagents
Nick Kapp
Skyline College
Linnea Fletcher
InnovATEBio
Randy Logan
BioNexus KC
Jai Pathak
Astrazeneca
Sarah Boyton
Quality Executive Partnerw
Scott Schneider
Neogen
Kathy Stack
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Successful Collaborations
