Board of Directors
Daniel Conners
Chairman of the Board
President, Biothera Pharmaceutical Group
Mr. Conners founded the company in 1997 and has led the company's development at every stage. His vision, entrepreneurial drive and experience have guided the company's evolution. Mr. Conners previously founded and managed
Techtel, the first digital wireless communication company in Ukraine and Metropolitan Investment
Group, Inc., a private investment firm.
Alex Giaquinto, Ph.D.
Former Senior Vice President
Schering-Plough
Dr. Giaquinto’s extensive pharmaceutical industry experience includes positions as Senior Vice President of Worldwide Regulatory Affairs at Schering-Plough Research Institute and the Senior Vice President of Global Compliance at Schering-Plough Corporation. He also has held numerous professional and academic positions, including Chairman of the Regulatory Affairs Coordinating Committee of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association, a lecturer on drug law at Temple University, and advisor to the University of Texas regarding its International Conference for Drug Development. Dr. Giaquinto is currently a special advisor to Tunnell Consulting, an integrative consulting company focused on life sciences.
Robert Hill
Former Chairman and CEO
Tunnell Consulting
Mr. Hill is a former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Tunnell Consulting, an integrative consulting company focused on life sciences. During his 17 years with Tunnell Consulting, Mr. Hill served the organization as a Principal, Practice Head, COO, CEO, and Chairman of the Board. During his tenure as Chairman, President, and CEO, Tunnell Consulting achieved a 35% compound annual growth rate. As the creator of the firm's pharmaceutical practice, Mr. Hill subsequently led the company to strategically focus on the life sciences market.
Steven Karel
Chief Operating Officer, Research & Technology
Biothera
Mr. Karel is responsible for research and
technology development at Biothera. He has been with Biothera since its founding and has been key to
the development of the company’s business strategy. He previously served as CFO and COO at several service and
technology companies and managed start-up and development stage businesses. Mr. Karel began his career as a CPA
with KPMG.
Steve King
Co-founder and Chairman
Landscape Structures Inc.
Mr. King founded Landscape Structures Inc., with his late wife Barbara King, in 1971 and they built the company into one of the leading playground equipment manufacturers in the world. Based in Delano, Minnesota, the company has designed, manufactured, installed and delighted children with more than 80,000 playgrounds worldwide. The company currently has more than 325 employees, and a global network of representatives. Mr. King is a graduate of Iowa State University and a registered Landscape Architect. In 1992, the Kings were named the Midwest Regional Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst and Young, Inc. magazine and the law firm of Gray Plant Mooty. They also were inducted into the National Institute of Entrepreneurs.
Andrew LaFrence
Chief Financial Officer
CNS Therapeutics
Mr. LaFrence is chief financial officer of CNS Therapeutics, which develops pharmaceuticals for site-specific delivery to the central nervous system. Previously he had a 26-year career with KPMG, where he became an audit partner and led the company’s Twin Cities Life Sciences and Emerging Companies practice. He also was a member of KPMG’s national Venture Capital practice. He frequently consulted with clients on a wide variety of topics, including capital formation and structure, buy versus lease, compensation and human resources, working capital management and business development. Clients have included a wide range of companies ranging from large multi-national enterprises to pre-revenue, VC-backed enterprises. Mr. LaFrence currently serves as a board member for EarthClean Corporation and Cardia Access.
Richard Mueller
Chief Executive Officer
President, Biothera Healthcare Group
Mr. Mueller joined Biothera as a Board member in 1999 and as CEO in 2001. He has held a number of senior executive positions, including: President, Textron Omniquip Alliance Group; President/CEO, Weslock Inc.; Chairman/ CEO, Playcore Inc.; and Managing Director, Toro-Wheel Horse. He has also held a number of senior management positions with both Toro and 3M Company earlier in his career.
Dick Pfister
Chief Executive Officer
Midwest Stihl, Inc.
Mr. Pfister’s initial ventures were in the forest products industry and construction. For the past 32 years, he has been the chief executive officer and majority stock owner of Midwest Stihl, Inc., the largest supplier of hand-held power equipment to the professional and consumer market within its territory, which consists of Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Under his leadership, Midwest Stihl, Inc. has maintained one of the highest market shares in the United States. Mr. Pfister is also very active in commercial real estate and commercial leases. He has a strong personal interest in the preservation of forestlands and wildlife for future generations.
Dwight Porter, Ph.D.
President
Applied Decision Resources
Dr. Porter is the president of Applied Decision Resources based in St. Paul, MN, and is an expert in strategic and marketing planning, pricing, and product management. He obtained his undergraduate degree in economics at Harvard University, earned his Ph.D. at the University of Maryland, and has taught economics, pricing and management at both the undergraduate and MBA levels from 1974 to 1997. He served as an officer in the U.S. Navy from 1969 to 1972. He is currently fully engaged in his consulting practice, which has included more than 100 major consulting engagements over the years. Among Dr. Porter's career clients are 3M, Medtronic, Google, You Tube, Bracco Imaging, AT&T, Sprint, National Computer Systems, Harris Corporation, Northwest Airlines, Siemens, Doubleclick, Marvin Windows and Doors, The Hazelden Foundation and Lutheran Social Services. Dr. Porter also currently serves on the boards of Tunnell Consulting and the Berquist Corporation.