Sam Fiorello

Chair of the External Advisory Board and CEO
Cortex Innovation Community

Sam Fiorello joined the Cortex Innovation Community as CEO in April 2020. Prior to this position he served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, and President of the Center’s affiliated research park, BRDG Park.

Sam’s involvement with the Danforth Center dates to the research institute’s founding in 1998 when he was the lead author of the strategic plan that helped launch the Center. In 2009, he was named founding president of BRDG Park, which has since grown into a thriving innovation cluster for food, agriculture, and life sciences companies from around the globe.

Sam holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Texas and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin.