Mike Tomas
Mike Tomas was appointed as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, and as a director on June 19, 2010. Mr. Tomas has been President for the past nine years of The ASTRI Group, an early stage private equity investment company in Florida with an investment in Bioheart since 2001. In 2003, he joined Bioheart’s board as the independent representative of The ASTRI Group. ASTRI provides capital, business development and strategic marketing support to emerging private companies. Mr. Tomas will continue to serve as President of The ASTRI Group. Previously from 1983 to 2001, Mr. Tomas held ascending executive positions including Chief Marketing Officer at Avantel, a $1 billion dollar joint venture with MCI. Upon retiring from MCI and WorldCom, Tomas joined other ex-MCI executives and helped raise $40M in venture capital to form Ineto, an integrated customer communications software solution that was successfully sold in 2001. Today Mr. Tomas sits on the boards of Perimeter Internetworking (SaaS providing secure transfer of information for medical and financial institutions), Avisena (revenue cycle management for medical practices) and Total Home Health (Medicare-certified home care provider). Mr. Tomas is also the current chairman of the Global Entrepreneurship Center at Florida International University and a founding coach/mentor at the University of Miami’s Launch Pad at the Toppel Center. Mr. Tomas holds a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Miami and a Bachelors degree from Florida International University.
Howard J. Leonhardt
Mr. Leonhardt was appointed as a member of our Board of Directors on June 20, 2010. Mr. Leonhardt had served as our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer since the Company’s incorporation in August 1999, until March 2007. He resumed his position as Chief Executive Officer in July 2008 and served until August 2009. He has served as the company’s Chief Technology Officer since March 2007. Mr. Leonhardt also served as the company’s Executive Chairman from March 2007 until March 2008. In 1986, Mr. Leonhardt founded World Medical Manufacturing Corporation, or World Medical, and served as its Chief Executive Officer from 1986 until December 1998 when World Medical was acquired by Arterial Vascular Engineering, Inc., or AVE. AVE was acquired by Medtronic, Inc. in January 1999. Mr. Leonhardt was the co-inventor of World Medical’s primary product, the TALENT (Taheri-Leonhardt) stent graft system. From December 1998 until June 1999, Mr. Leonhardt served as President of World Medical Manufacturing Corporation, a subsidiary of Medtronic. Scientific articles written by Mr. Leonhardt have been published in a number of publications including Techniques in Vascular and Endovascular Surgery and the Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery. Mr. Leonhardt received a diploma in International Trade from the Anoka-Hennepin Technical College, attended the University of Minnesota and Anoka-Ramsey Community College and holds an honorary Doctorate Degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Northern California.
Catherine Sulawske-Guck
Ms. Sulawske-Guck was appointed Chief Operating Officer in July 2010. From January 2007 to June 2010, Ms. Sulawske-Guck served as our Vice President of Administration and Human Resources. Ms. Sulawske-Guck joined Bioheart in the full-time capacity as Director of Administration and Human Resources in January 2004 after having served us in a consulting capacity since December 2001. Prior to joining Bioheart, from May 1989 until November 2001, Ms. Sulawske-Guck served as Director of Operations and Customer Service for World Medical Manufacturing Corporation, a subsidiary of Medtronic.
Kristin Comella
Ms. Comella has over 12 years experience in corporate entities with expertise in regenerative medicine, training and education, research, product development, and senior management. Ms. Comella has been a member of the Bioheart Inc. senior management team since 2004 and is currently serving as the Chief Scientific Officer. Ms. Comella was appointed as Bioheart’s Vice President of R&D and Corporate Development in December 2008. Since joining Bioheart in September 2004, she has played a major role in managing the product development, manufacturing and quality systems. In addition, Ms. Comella is currently and actively serving on multiple boards in the stem cell arena. Ms. Comella has over ten years of cell culturing experience including building and managing the stem cell laboratory at Tulane University's Center for Gene Therapy. She also developed stem cell therapies for osteoarthritis at Osiris Therapeutics. Ms. Comella holds an M.S. in Chemical Engineering from The Ohio State University and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of South Florida.
Linda Palermo
Ms. Palermo joined Bioheart in September 2005 and was appointed our Operations Manager in December 2008. Ms. Palermo has 19 years of experience in the Supply Chain Industry with responsibilities in purchasing, inventory control, warehouse management, distribution, quality management, and customer service. Prior to joining Bioheart Ms. Palermo served as Materials Supervisor/Buyer for Bolton Medical, Inc. from 2003 until 2005. Prior to that, she served as Distribution Supervisor for Medtronic AVE (formerly World Medical). Ms. Palermo has an A.S. from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale.
Angel Rodriguez
Mr. Rodriguez joined Bioheart in April 2006 as our Controller. Mr. Rodriguez has 36 years of experience in the controllership function and business management, with more than 10 years experience as Controller of a Public Company. Prior to joining Bioheart Mr. Rodriguez held positions with Bradford Healthcare, Inc., Equinox Systems, Inc. and Fidelity National Leasing Corporation. Mr. Rodriguez has a B.A. in Accounting from the University of Puerto Rico.
Board of Directors
William P. Murphy, Jr., M.D.
Dr. Murphy has served as a member of our Board of Directors since June 2003 and is currently serving as the Chairman of the Board. Dr. Murphy founded Small Parts, Inc., a supplier of high quality mechanical components for design engineers, in 1964 and served as its Chairman until his retirement in April 2005. Small Parts, Inc. was acquired by Amazon.com, Inc. in March 2005. From October 1999 until October 2004, Dr. Murphy served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Hyperion, Inc., a medical diagnosis company which had an involuntary bankruptcy filed against it in December 2003. Dr. Murphy is the founder of Cordis Corporation (now Cordis Johnson & Johnson) which he led as President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at various times during his 28 years at Cordis until his retirement in October 1985. Cordis Johnson & Johnson is a leading firm in cardiovascular instrumentation. Dr. Murphy received an M.D. in 1947 from the University of Illinois and a B.S in pre-medicine from Harvard College in 1946. He also studied physiologic instrumentation at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT. After a two year rotating internship at St. Francis Hospital in Honolulu, he became a Research Fellow in Medicine at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston where he was the dialysis engineer on the first clinical dialysis team in the United States. He continued as an Instructor in Medicine and then a research associate in Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Murphy is the author of numerous papers and owns 17 patents. He is the recipient of a number of honors, including the prestigious Lemelson-MIT Lifetime Achievement Award, the MIT Corporate Leadership Award, the Distinguished Service Award from North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology, and the Jay Malina Award from the Beacon Council of Miami, Florida.
Mark P. Borman
Mr. Borman has served as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors since May 2009. Mr. Borman served as Chief Financial Officer from August 18, 2009 to February 10, 2010. Mr. Borman is a seasoned financial officer with more than 30 years of broad-based financial and investor relations experience. He most recently served as Vice President, Investor Relations and Treasurer of ADC Telecommunications from 1998 to 2008. During his career, Mr. Borman has held positions with General Instrument Corporation, First Chicago Corporation, FMC Corporation, Price Waterhouse, and KMG. Mr. Borman received his B.A. in Accounting from Michigan State University and his MBA from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. He is a Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Financial Analyst and has experience as an advisor, board member, faculty, speaker, and mentor.
Bruce C. Carson
Mr. Carson has served as a member of our Board of Directors since January 2001. Since May 2001, Mr. Carson has served as the Vice President of Sales of FinishMaster, Inc., a privately held company specializing in the distribution of paints and products to the automotive and industrial refinishing industries. From 1987 until May 2001, Mr. Carson was President of Badger Paint Plus, Inc., a privately held distributor of paints and products, until Badger Paint Plus’ merger with FinnishMaster, Inc. Mr. Carson is co-owner of the Southern Minnesota Express Hockey Club, a member of the North American Hockey League. Mr. Carson is also the founder and President of the Athletic Performance Academy in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, a privately held athletic training facility that has specialized in sports specific training for elite athletes since August 2004.
Charles Hart
Mr. Hart has served as a member of our Board of Directors since May 2009. Mr. Hart has more than 20 years of entrepreneurial experience. Mr. Hart founded Hart Masonry, Inc. in 1986 and has served as its President since then. He is also the Founder and President of Wildridge Enterprises. Mr. Hart is a member of the Board of Directors for Eagle Street Properties LLP.
Howard J. Leonhardt
Mr. Leonhardt was appointed as a member of our Board of Directors on June 20, 2010. Mr. Leonhardt had served as our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer since the Company’s incorporation in August 1999, until March 2007. He resumed his position as Chief Executive Officer in July 2008 and served until August 2009. He has served as the company’s Chief Technology Officer since March 2007. Mr. Leonhardt also served as the company’s Executive Chairman from March 2007 until March 2008. In 1986, Mr. Leonhardt founded World Medical Manufacturing Corporation, or World Medical, and served as its Chief Executive Officer from 1986 until December 1998 when World Medical was acquired by Arterial Vascular Engineering, Inc., or AVE. AVE was acquired by Medtronic, Inc. in January 1999. Mr. Leonhardt was the co-inventor of World Medical’s primary product, the TALENT (Taheri-Leonhardt) stent graft system. From December 1998 until June 1999, Mr. Leonhardt served as President of World Medical Manufacturing Corporation, a subsidiary of Medtronic. Scientific articles written by Mr. Leonhardt have been published in a number of publications including Techniques in Vascular and Endovascular Surgery and the Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery. Mr. Leonhardt received a diploma in International Trade from the Anoka-Hennepin Technical College, attended the University of Minnesota and Anoka-Ramsey Community College and holds an honorary Doctorate Degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Northern California.
Richard T. Spencer, III
Mr. Spencer has served as a member of our Board of Directors since December 2001. From April 1982 until July 1987, Mr. Spencer was President of the Marketing Division of Cordis Corporation (now Cordis Johnson & Johnson) and a member of its executive committee and a Vice President of Cordis Dow Corporation, a joint venture of the Dow Chemical Company and Cordis to manufacture hollow fiber dialysers and machinery for dialysis. Mr. Spencer was Chief Operating Officer and held other executive positions with World Medical from 1993 to January 1999. Mr. Spencer received a B.A. in Economics in 1959 from the University of Michigan. He has studied business theory, case studies and financial management while attending executive programs at the Stanford University School of Business, the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business and the Clemson University School of Business. Between his University of Michigan studies and embarking on a career in healthcare, Mr. Spencer served in Europe with the U.S. Army Counter Intelligence Corps as a military intelligence analyst with top secret security clearance. Mr. Spencer is also the founder and a member of the board of directors of Viacor, Inc., a private company that is developing techniques for the percutaneous repair of heart mitral valves.
Mike Tomas
Mike Tomas was appointed as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, and as a director on June 19, 2010. Mr. Tomas has been President for the past nine years of The ASTRI Group, an early stage private equity investment company in Florida with an investment in Bioheart since 2001. In 2003, he joined Bioheart’s board as the independent representative of The ASTRI Group. ASTRI provides capital, business development and strategic marketing support to emerging private companies. Mr. Tomas will continue to serve as President of The ASTRI Group. Previously from 1983 to 2001, Mr. Tomas held ascending executive positions including Chief Marketing Officer at Avantel, a $1 billion dollar joint venture with MCI. Upon retiring from MCI and WorldCom, Tomas joined other ex-MCI executives and helped raise $40M in venture capital to form Ineto, an integrated customer communications software solution that was successfully sold in 2001. Today Mr. Tomas sits on the boards of Perimeter Internetworking (SaaS providing secure transfer of information for medical and financial institutions), Avisena (revenue cycle management for medical practices) and Total Home Health (Medicare-certified home care provider). Mr. Tomas is also the current chairman of the Global Entrepreneurship Center at Florida International University and a founding coach/mentor at the University of Miami’s Launch Pad at the Toppel Center. Mr. Tomas holds a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Miami and a Bachelors degree from Florida International University.
Samuel S. Ahn, M.D., MBA
Dr. Ahn was appointed as a member of our Board of Directors on September 6, 2010. Dr. Ahn previously served as a member of the Bioheart Board of Directors from January 2001 thru September 2008. Dr Ahn was one of the early pioneers in developing the field of endovascular surgery by coordinating and leading the first endovascular training courses in the US and Europe as well as developing some of the endovascular devices and techniques currently in clinical use today. He is a former Professor of Surgery in the Division of Vascular Surgery at UCLA, where he was also the Director of the Endovascular Surgery Program. In 2006 Dr. Ahn founded Vascular Management Associates, Inc., a consulting and management firm that sets up outpatient endovascular centers across the US. VMA has set up 8 such sites to date and is on track to set up two more this year. In 2008, he co-founded Wright-Ahn Technology, LLC, to develop and commercialize endovascular devices. In 2009, he co-founded MediBank International, LLC, a global healthcare IT Company. Dr. Ahn graduated from the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, and received his general and vascular surgical residency training at UCLA. He also earned his MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management in August, 2004. Dr. Ahn sits on five vascular journal editorial boards, and has published over 120 peer-reviewed manuscripts, 50 book chapters, and five textbooks, including the first and definitive textbook on Endovascular Surgery. During the past eighteen years he has consulted for over 50 biomedical companies, both new and established, and has authored over 15 patents.