CineMedics: Keeping the World Working

By Traci Sanders

Film production was brought to a halt for many months during 2020 due to Covid. Even when production resumed, actors and film crew were required to wear masks on set and have frequent Covid tests with proof of negative results before returning to set, which caused delays in filming and inconvenienced everyone involved.

Heather Drake Bianchi created a solution for this problem. A Syracuse, New York native, Heather obtained a bachelor’s in Biomedical Sciences in 2009 and two master’s degrees – one in Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, the other in Forensic Science. Heather worked in critical care medicine in the US for sixteen years and outside of the country for five years. She served as a paramedic for National Geographic and various other organizations, as well as assisting in search and rescue efforts within Hurricanes Katrina, Irene, and Sandy.

As Covid began to cross over into the US, Heather recognized the need to keep people working and began to research ways to provide rapid, on-site testing for employees, especially those in the entertainment industry. CineMedics was launched in Syracuse, New York in 2020. This mobile testing site provided Covid screening, testing, and compliance quickly and effectively.

Heather was able to adapt her business model to accommodate numer-

Continued on page 17 trist sensibilities, and would go on to lead as the second longest serving Speaker in Georgia history.

Burns is aware of the large shoes of his friend, but he also believes that leading such a large and diverse group of 180 and two very different political parties requires a LOT of listening.

Asked about his priorities for the session at a first-week briefing with members of the Capitol Press Corps, Burns explained that he is hearing from his Committee Chairs, Caucus members, as well as the other side of the aisle, on what they consider to be the most pressing needs for this assembly. He explained that he likes to gather his team and interested parties and build consensus around the table, and then the group has an agenda and priority order for proceeding.

Ralston inherited a House in disarray and in need of a strong, steady hand. The House coming to Burns has been sailing smoothly for several years, and an even more inclusive leadership style may be just right for the times ahead. Burns has already restructured how the House handles health care issues, creating another committee, chair, and structure to coordinate and plan together, as health care costs, particularly Medicaid, are one of the fastest growing drivers of the budget of state government.

The honeymoon will be brief, and many other House leaders of substance have chosen to retire in recent years. Burns will be able to make his own mark and imprint. The affable timber farmer has a disarming charm and the friendly ear already mentioned. One of the larger challenges may be redefining the relationship with the State Senate, which now has its own new presiding officer and lieutenant governor, but that is a column for another day.

Speaker Burns will continue to advance the House “culture of life” for the people of Georgia. Like his several thousand acres of timber, I think

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