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My education, experiences, and interests cover a wide array of topics, but all of them contribute to a singular professional goal.
I want to build life science brands that help patients gain access to the products and services they need so they can feel better, and empower providers to deliver excellent care efficiently and effectively. |
EDUCATION
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University of California, Berkeley
Master of Business Administration (MBA) 2021 - 2024 |
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Stanford University
Bachelor of Sciences (BS), Biological Sciences 2002 - 2006 I received a Bachelors of Science in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Cellular Biology from Stanford University in the Spring of 2006. I pursued a challenging course load that extended beyond the core in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics into upper division courses in Mathematics and Economics. While in school I also undertook a wide-array of extracurricular activities in student government, athletics, volunteer tutoring, and academic research within the Biology Department. |
PURSUITS OF KNOWLEDGE AND PASSION
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College of DuPage
Student 2016 - 2017 In the summer of 2016 I decided to pursue credentials in the computer and data science fields that I had been studying independently. In three semesters of part-time study at the College of DuPage I completed 25.00 units of Computer Science and Database Management courses with a 4.0 GPA to earn Academic Honors during each semester of my enrollment to Certificates in Enterprise Database Proficiency and C++ Language Proficiency. Database management coursework included the study of micro, mini, and mainframe database (DB) systems including physical and logical structures, data languages, and database design and administration. This course of study spanned client/server, internet DB environments, data warehousing, Object-Oriented data modeling, On-line Analytic Processing (OLAP), and DB development. The application of theory was by far the most interesting part of the experience where I gained hands-on experience creating and using relational databases with SQL programming commands to create, maintain and query database objects within Oracle 12c DBMS environment to answer real business questions for my clients. My Visual Basic and C++ programming coursework provided practical experience with data storage classes and structure, operators and expressions, control structures, arrays and pointers, classes and objects, OOP (Object Oriented Programming) concepts, and operating system interfaces. |
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Codecademy
Student 2015 - 2016 I sought to learn the technical fundamentals of web and mobile application development to better communicate with my engineering colleagues and stay on the cutting edge. As a project manager I want to be able to understand every aspect of building better interactive websites, mobile applications, and multi-media tools so I can deliver the latest in innovation to my clients. Growing up as a sports nut I became a stats nerd at an early age, and being able to define the games I love in terms of quantifiable metrics gave me a whole other way to appreciate the achievements of my sports heroes. That early interest has evolved into a firm belief that having the right data and knowing how to use it separates the winners from the losers. With the support of Codecademy I am further enhancing my strong data analysis skills by learning to manipulate and query data stored in databases with SQL so I can build and run my own advanced analytics reports. |
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Reelio
Investor 2013 - 2018 The Founder and CEO of Reelio, Pete Borum, has been a close friend of mine since our days together at Stanford. I was an early investor in his concept for creating a YouTube Artist Marketplace where brands looking for an authentic voice could find YouTube content creators that connect them directly to their customers. Over the past five years I've supported the growth of the organization as they have taken enormous strides culminating in the successful acquisition by Fullscreen Media in early 2018. As a shareholder I've participated in key discussions regarding the direction of the organization and pressure-tested assumptions to help refine the strategic vision for the product and the organization as a whole. I've benefited greatly from the experience as an attendant during each and every step: from nascent concept and very early-stage funding drives; to validation of the established business model with accurate forecasts and P&L projections; and now, recognition as a leader in the sector with industry awards, major media partnerships, and a crowded book of business replete with world-class brands hailing our services. |
"He was an excellent instructor. Definitely the best part of the course." - Student, 2015 "Impressively competent in all subjects, down to earth and approachable, and went above and beyond to motivate the class and cheer us on. Equally as effective in teaching as instilling confidence!" - Student, 2014 "I really think that his enthusiasm, teaching style and ability to include everyone has yielded a positive learning experience. He's an excellent instructor." - Student, 2013 |
Kaplan Test Prep
Faculty Instructor 2011 - 2017 Effective communication of complex scientific concepts to a diverse audience is central to my success as a marketer and strategist. I need to be able to condense dozens of studies and hundreds of pages of scientific literature into easily digested messages that can be readily recalled by consumers, physicians, nurses, or sales specialists. With Kaplan I've had the opportunity to hone this skill by preparing college students and recent graduates for the MCAT, the Medical College Admission Test, which tests an enormous scientific knowledge base. As a faculty instructor I've mastered not only the challenging sciences I teach, but also a variety of methods essential for effective adult learning and the tools required to construct a virtual classroom and conduct online classes. Add to that the fact that I love to teach. I have taught over 200 students and have maintained a >90% "Excellent" rating as an instructor throughout my tenure. In recognition of my teaching excellence I was elected to the Kaplan Academy in 2012, which is the elite class of instructors responsible for curriculum enhancements, nationwide faculty support, and ongoing development of course offerings and services. The adult learning principles I employ to be effective in the classroom and develop world class course curricula have also expanded my ability to build compelling marketing and training tools for my clients. |
"He [Gurnek] consistently demonstrated an eagerness to learn and an intellectual curiosity that underlined a strong aptitude for challenging science concepts. Gurnek has a bright future ahead of him...Gurnek proved to be a fundamentally sound scientist and writer. He was detailed in his analyses and thorough in his explanations...Gurnek’s quiet determination and curiosity along with his top-notch performance in both of the courses, leave me with no doubt that Gurnek will excel..." - Elizabeth A. Runquist, PhD Dept. of Chemistry & Biochemistry San Francisco State University |
San Francisco State University
Student Spring 2012 I completed six units of upper division Biochemistry courses that included both a laboratory and lecture course, in which I received the highest possible marks. The courses served as a refresher on essential assay and purification techniques, and the fundamental biochemistry of metabolic pathways germane to my work in the field. At the time I began work on a specialty product indicated for the treatment of proteinuria in nephrotic syndrome, which is diagnosed and monitored with the aid of certain metabolic markers. This coursework provided me with the tools I needed to better comprehend the pathology of the disease, thereby allowing me to engage patients and healthcare providers on a deeper level. This immersive approach to tackling such a sophisticated topic is indicative of the dedication I give to all of my projects. While this was an exceptional case in which the opportunity arose for me to take applicable University level coursework, I have in many other instances done extensive informal, self-directed study to prepare for a project. The research is not just something I do for the job, but rather something I take great enjoyment in as well. My intellectual curiosity is one of my greatest assets, and a powerful force that drives me forward. |
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San Francisco Department of Public Health
Volunteer Health Coach 2011 - 2013 I joined the Maxine Hall Health Center Volunteer Corps to get closer to patients and gain hands-on experience with the medical profession. Through the Department of Public Health (DPH) I completed the 20-hour Health Coach certification program and began providing education, medication adherence support, and nutrition planning services to my own panel of patients. I developed a 22-member health coaching panel with whom I interacted on a weekly or monthly basis to set wellness goals and provide behavioral modification support needed to achieve them. I also spent over 10 hours/week at the clinic providing day-to-day support for the clinic staff by updating Electronic Medical Records, conducting patient outreach, and organizing fundraising and other group activities at the clinic. During my time at Maxine Hall I took on larger scale project that were designed to support Department of Public Health Quality Improvement metrics. I organized Pain Management meetings to provide education and ongoing monitoring of patients on long-term pain management medication regimes. I used the DPH database to organize outreach to at-risk patients to get them into the clinic for required diagnostics. I also supported the clinic-wide effort to create a Diabetes Day where the clinic's entire Diabetic patient population could come in all at once to complete the 12-point screening necessary for the maintenance of their care. I was also heavily involved in the clinic's efforts to transition to paperless electronic systems (eClinicalWorks). I worked with clinic staff to build the workflows that would serve as the basis for the systems' designs. |
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The Tectonics
Manager 2009 - 2011 The Tectonics were the brain child of four talented musicians and myself. The band started out as a nameless jazz quartet that played every Wednesday night at Club Deluxe. I had been longtime friends with all the band members by the time they started writing their own tunes, and in 2010 they earned an incredible opportunity to record an album at the famous Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, CA. As a friend and a fan, I offered to help the band with the business and legal logistics associated with recording and marketing the album. I enlisted an attorney to create the band contract and management agreement, licensed the copyrighted material the band planned to use on the album, filed the copyrights for their original works, and hired the graphic designer and publisher that would design and print the album. Once the album was printed I assumed full managerial duties and lead the promotional activities for the group, along with sale of their album and merchandise. I listed band's music for sale on all the major electronic distributors and had the physical album listed for sale on all the digital retailers as well. I created fliers, organized photo shoots, begin a mailing list, and cultivated the band's social media presence. I organized a city-wide series of concerts called Flash Jazz in which the band "popped up" at various high traffic locations around San Francisco to play and market their upcoming shows. We were able to build a significant following for a Jazz band based on the social media and guerrilla marketing techniques. Our e-mailing list reached >500 hundred and the number of followers on social media exceeded 1000 at its height. Commercial success as a Jazz band is elusive, however, and the band was forced to part ways in 2011. |
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The Stanford Daily
Vice President of Advertising 2006 - 2007 After completing my degree, I received an offer to serve in an executive role for The Stanford Daily that would afford me an opportunity to learn fundamental management skills for my future career. At the time, the independent student-run publication was distributed to over 500 locations throughout the peninsula and had a national readership over 30,000, which has continued to grow. I was responsible for developing the sales strategy and overseeing the sales team that would produce the revenue necessary to fund the business operations of the entire publication. I hired, trained, and managed a team of 10 student-advertising executives. In 12 months under my management we raised $1.1 million which was the second highest total ever achieved, and a large enough surplus to make major investments in the business. In addition to the day-to-day management of the advertising business, I was also a Member of the Board of Directors for The Stanford Daily and was thereby responsible for the long-term growth and development of the organization. During my tenure we achieved significant milestones in the construction of a new building exclusively for use by The Stanford Daily on the Stanford campus. We also made significant investments in the information technology systems that supported the business. I personally oversaw the implementation of a SalesForce customer relationship management system, as well as the design and development of The Stanford Daily online content management system. I also lead the creation and implementation of the Stanford Job Board in association with our partners from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. The Job Board continues to stand as a profit center for the organization where major recruiters get direct access to Stanford students. |
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Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory
Research Associate 2005 In 2004 I declared my major in Biological Sciences and joined the lab of Professor Ward Watt as a research assistant. Professor Watt's research focus is evolutionary adaptive mechanisms and the interplay of biomolecular pathways with their native ecosystems. The lab specialized in the study of the Colias genus of butterfly, which was an ideal model organism due to its ease of cultivation, short generation time, and extensive allozyme polymorphism within a metabolic pathway endemic to all eukaryotic organisms (PGI-PGM-G6PD). The overarching purpose of the group's work was to quantify the epigentic relationship between the enzyme variation and the selective evolutionary pressures. During my first year with the group I studied the cultivation and maintenance of the colony, and then learned the laboratory techniques germane to our investigation including RNA/DNA extraction, primer design, PCR, and electrophoresis and staining. At the end of the academic year I was asked to join the team's summer field research at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL). We spent eight weeks conducting a population study using mark, release, recapture (MRR) techniques, gathering crucial climatologic data which was correlated with reproductive rates, and collecting wild samples to augment the experimental colony and for further genetic and allozyme testing. The immersive experience at RMBL inspired a number of different research questions of my own. With the support of Professor Watt and the lab group I completed an independent study to explore the influence of allele variants on larval growth rates and female fecundity during my senior year. |