Carter Wells leads Economic Development at HudsonAlpha with the founders’ vision of innovation, collaboration and impact, at the forefront of mind.

HudsonAlpha’s Economic Development mission is driven by the overarching goals of growing the biotech presence on the Institute’s campus and throughout north Alabama; leveraging the HudsonAlpha ecosystem for entrepreneurs, start-up companies and small businesses; and generating economic impact to local, state and regional stakeholders.

Wells and the Economic Development team work to recruit companies for expansion and relocation; encourage and support entrepreneurs to start and grow biotech companies; connect talented and driven people for collaboration; and find proven and creative ways to overcome barriers to success for HudsonAlpha associate companies.

Wells builds and strengthens relationships with local, state, and federal government officials and community leaders to highlight the benefits of HudsonAlpha’s economic development mission. In addition to these responsibilities, Wells directs the work of the Operations team at HudsonAlpha.

Today, over 1000 people work on the HudsonAlpha campus, which is home to the Institute’s non-profit genomic research laboratories and more than 45 biotech companies.

Wells brings to the role a diverse wealth of experience, having served as CEO of iCubate, a molecular diagnostics company from 2010 to 2020. Mr. Wells was responsible for the overall leadership and daily operations of the company. Additionally, he maintained strong relationships with iCubate’s board of directors, shareholders and various external groups. Under his leadership, iCubate achieved FDA clearances and CE marks on comprehensive bloodstream infection diagnostic tests; entered into successful international licensing and joint venture agreements; made initial integration into the U.S. clinical microbiology market; earned FDA “breakthrough device” designation on a non-tuberculosis Mycobacterium assay; and developed and integrated a diagnostic test for COVID-19.

Wells serves as a District Chair and Board Member for the Business Council of Alabama and is a member of the Redstone Community Relations Committee. He is an executive committee, board member and past chair of BioAlabama. He is an executive committee and board member, and past chair of BioAlabama. Prior to joining HudsonAlpha, Mr. Wells led teams in various political, governmental and non-profit organizations in the Southeast, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S. Notably, Wells served as Chief of Staff for U.S. Representative Robert E. “Bud” Cramer.

Mr. Wells is a graduate of Auburn University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He is married to Juliet Hettinger Wells and together they have three wonderful children.