About Us
Our mission is to foster growth and awareness of the life sciences industry in New Hampshire and to attract and retain world-class talent and innovation.
Andrea Hechavarria
President & CEO
Andrea Hechavarria is President & CEO of NH Life Sciences (NHLS), the statewide life sciences association—built by the industry, for the industry. Alongside co-founders Cindy Conde and John Whelan, Andrea established NHLS in 2023, successfully building membership from the ground-up with the backing of founding member companies and attracting broad interest from life sciences companies across the state. NHLS’ arrival in New Hampshire represents an exciting new chapter in the state’s economic history, as the industry is a priority growth sector for the Granite State with significant opportunity for further expansion. NHLS’ mission is to foster growth and awareness of the life sciences industry in New Hampshire and to attract and retain world-class talent and innovation. Under Andrea’s leadership, NHLS works to connect, convene, and facilitate the advancement of the life sciences industry in the Granite State through member programs and events, policy advocacy, industry intelligence, and education.
Andrea is a proud NH native with an extensive career in government, policy and industry. Most recently she built and led the Global Government Affairs function for Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies, a global leader in blood component, therapeutic apheresis and cellular technologies. Prior to Terumo BCT, Andrea served as Chief of Staff to the CEO and as VP of Government Affairs at Butterfly Network, a highly innovative and disruptive handheld ultrasound technology start-up.
Andrea began her work in the medical device industry at 3M Company where she worked closely with the White House COVID-19 Task Force and 3M business leaders to respond to the pandemic and the unprecedented global demand for N95 respirators. While at 3M she also worked closely with the global medtech association, AdvaMed, to successfully repeal the medical device tax.
Andrea is passionate about advocating for the life sciences community and the impact R&D, science, and innovative technology have on patients and our healthcare system at large. She has a strong reputation within the highest ranks of government and our nation’s leading business trade associations.
Earlier in her career, Andrea spent nearly a decade in the United States Senate. During that time she had the privilege of working for multiple U.S. Senators and focused on cross-industry regulatory reform, energy, and environmental issues.
While in Washington she also served as one of the first Ambassadors for the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation, where she helped lead the advocacy strategy for a Memorial to be built on the National Mall in Washington, DC to honor the service and sacrifice of all who have served in the Global War on Terrorism.
Andrea holds an M.B.A. from Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and a B.A. in political science from Loyola University Maryland. She resides in Amherst, NH with her husband and two young children.
Cindy Conde
Co-Founder & Board Member, NH Life Sciences
Cindy recently retired and lives on the NH Seacoast. She is currently a co-founder and board member for NH Life Sciences, an industry association launched in March 2023, NH’s 1st ever “connecting, convening, and facilitating body for the broader life sciences industry in NH.” Cindy also serves on the NH EPSCoR Council, UMass Lowell’s Chancellor’s Advisory Board, and is Co-Chair of UMass Lowell’s Industrial Advisory Board for the Francis College of Engineering, and Advisory Board member for the Biomedical Engineering department.
Prior to her current roles, Cindy’s 30-year professional career spanned across the consumer products, retail, medical device, biotech/pharma, information technology, and consulting industry sectors. She spent 20 years at Sanofi and Genzyme in various roles such as CIO, Director of Operations, & Engineering. Prior to Sanofi Genzyme, Cindy was the Director of Manufacturing Operations at CR Bard Cardiovascular Division, was co-founder Hawkeye Software Systems, a start-up software development company, and held various engineering positions for both CR Bard and Polaroid Corporation earlier in her professional career.
Cindy earned a B.S. in Industrial Engineering and M.S. in Manufacturing Engineering and was inducted into the Francis Academy of Distinguished Engineers in 2017.
John Whelan
Co-Founder & Board Member, NH Life Sciences
Prior to the founding of NHLS, John had been an active community builder in the NH Technology Eco-system, having started and run multiple Technology User Groups throughout New Hampshire. The success from these User Groups came in part, from the partnerships formed and collaborations built with technology industry leaders in the state. John went on to serve two, three-year terms as a board member of the New Hampshire Tech Alliance (NHTA). It was during his time he met Cindy Conde and joined her as a Co-Chair on the NHTA’s Bio Med Tech committee and his passion for the NH Life Sciences industry was born.
Along with being a founding member of NHLS, John is Managing Director of Alexander Technology Group. ATG is a New Hampshire based high tech staffing business which John has been a part of since 2009. Over his 13+ years with ATG John has been part of a tremendous team that has placed thousands of people in high tech jobs throughout New Hampshire.
John moved to the Seacoast of NH in 2013 with his wife Kerri and their two children. He continues his work growing NHLS and advocating for the Life Sciences industry in New Hampshire.