Advisory Board
The Life Science Branding and Marketing Network Advisory Board is made up of a select number of industry thought leaders who come from a wide spectrum of life science market segments. Thanks to their eclectic background experience and collective years of industry knowledge, each Board Member brings a unique perspective to the table, which ultimately aids them in their role of helping to guide the overall strategic direction of the Network.
Over the course of their tenure, not only will these individuals directly shape and influence the Network as a whole, they will also act as its ambassadors, by sharing their rich insights about branding and marketing in the life science industry with LSBMN members.
Presenting the LSBMN Advisory Board:
Shelly D. Adams | VP Sales & Mktg | Gallus Biopharma | Biopharma MfgAs a corporate founder and Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Shelly leads and directs the commercial development, sales, marketing, and strategic partnerships within Gallus BioPharmaceuticals. Shelly has developed uncompromising skills during a distinguished 20 year career in biotech, pharmaceutical and contract manufacturing services. Her passion, creativity and commitment to satisfy customer needs have rendered a remarkable reputation in the industry. Prior to her joining Gallus, Shelly was most recently with Avecia Biologics, where she was VP of North American Sales, responsible for hiring and managing a high performing sales team covering CMO and development business activity for the US, Canada, and Australia. During her 9 years with Avecia, her sales experience included small molecules, DNA medicines, biologics and cell culture development services. She began her sales career at Cambrex, Inc. selling cell culture media and endotoxin detection equipment and kits to the hospital, academic, biotechnology and pharmaceutical accounts. Shelly’s sales career also includes uncommonly successful experiences at BioSpace.com, providing web solutions and a leading Internet Hubsite for the Life Sciences, and at Phamatech where she led a a global sales and marketing effort and had responsibility for launching a new product in the OTC market. Shelly holds a bachelor’s in Biology from the University of California, San Diego.
Gianfranco de Feo, Ph.D | Fmr. Sr. Director Mktg | Sequenom | Genetic AnalysisDr. de Feo has been in the life sciences business for the past 15 years after a brief academic career in academia (UCLA, UCSF). Throughout his career, Dr. de Feo has worked for some of the strongest companies in the life-sciences industry (Affymetrix, Applied Biosystems) at times when their technologies were the hottest in the industry, and worked for smaller companies (NuGEN, Sequenom) providing innovative solutions to targeted market needs. Dr. de Feo has led a variety of commercial teams and processes including Marketing, Support and Applications, Business Development and Product Development and is known for his life sciences market knowledge, and for his ability to develop effective messaging and presentation of complex technical products and services.
Kathryn Gilbert | VP Mktg | Suneva Medical | Biotech-CosmeticKathryn Gilbert is Vice President of Marketing at Suneva Medical. Ms. Gilbert has over eighteen years sales and marketing experience in the life science and medical device industries. Prior to joining Suneva Medical, Ms. Gilbert served as Sr. Director, Product Management and Marketing Communications at Solta Medical, responsible for global marketing programs promoting the Thermage and Fraxel brands with aesthetic practitioners and consumers. Prior to Solta Medical, she served as Director of Marketing for Ciphergen BioSystems, a company that specialized in the discovery of protein biomarkers as diagnostics for disease. Ms Gilbert has also held a variety of sales, marketing and technical positions at life science companies in both Europe and the USA including Boehringer Mannheim, Genzyme, Inc, and Millipore, Inc.
Ms. Gilbert holds a B.Sc (Hons) in Biological Sciences from University of Warwick, United Kingdom.
Debra Krahel | VP Sales & Mktg | ResTech | Med. DevicesAs Vice President Sales and Marketing for Respiratory Technology Corp, Debra has developed a market for innovative pH testing throughout the US and 30 countries worldwide. Ms. Krahel brings more than 20 years of physician group development and executive hospital management. From 1997-2001 she served as President of the California Independent Physician Association of America. Previous positions include VP Managed Care Matria Healthcare and National Diabetic Pharmacies, and was the founder and CEO of Omnicare Health Services, Inc., which was acquired by PRN, Inc.
Ed MacBean | VP Product Mgmt | Pathway Genomics | Genetics-GenomicsEd is currently responsible for non-laboratory operations and the customer experience at Pathway Genomics. With 15 years of experience in health care technology, Ed has launched innovative internet products that have been implemented at many of the leading health, not-for-profit and media companies in the country. Prior to joining Pathway, Ed was responsible for all aspects of product development at VMIX Media and led the product management team at Kintera (acquired by Blackbaud), named #1 in the 2005 San Diego Fast50 by Deloitte and Touche. At MedUnite, he developed insurance solutions for clients including LabCorp, Aetna and Cigna and at Medibuy he led efforts to provide e-commerce solutions for WebMD and Premier, Inc. Ed graduated from Duke University and earned a Master’s Degree in Health Systems Management from Rush University.
Christopher McHan | President | Neusoft Medical Systems, USA | Med. ImagingChristopher McHan is a business executive with 23 years in medical sales ranging from medical surgical disposables, to physician driven products like sutures and oxygenators to diagnostic imaging equipment. Christopher’s forte is dealing with the high profile, highly political customers that are key to the company; as well as developing under-performing sales territories, departments and or companies, making the appropriate changes to achieve profitable sales and service. The value Christopher delivers is an open mind that is not held back by the past, preconceived notions nor fear of the unknown. Understanding the mind of the customer, be it internal or external, is key to developing strategies to earn new or additional business, as well as working within the organization and or developing an organization from the ground up.
Karen Possemato | Sr. Director Corporate Mktg | Illumina | Genetics-GenomicsKaren Possemato is Senior Director of Corporate Marketing at Illumina Inc., a global life sciences company based in San Diego, California. In this position, she manages marketing and corporate communications, public relations, corporate websites, brand and demand generation. With over two decades of experience on the commercial side of life sciences, Karen has also held positions in technical support, technical writing and product marketing at leading companies like Invitrogen and Qiagen.
Karen and her team have received awards for outstanding marketing campaigns, including awards from trade publications and the Business Marketing Association. Karen’s team has also received recognition for writing and website design from various professional organizations.
Ms. Possemato graduated from University of California, San Diego with a Bachelor of Arts degree in biochemistry and cell biology.
Jonathan Romanowsky | Sr Director of Mktg | Veracyte | Molecular DiagnosticsJonathan Romanowsky is dedicated to improving patient care by launching novel medical technology and establishing it in routine patient care. Recently, Jonathan has led the launch of sophisticated, high value molecular diagnostic lab developed tests: Afirma Thyroid FNA Analysis by Veracyte (current role), Corus CAD by CardioDx and AlloMap by XDx. His activities have spanned from strategic planning, market research, commercial operations, brand development, market communications, product management and product marketing. Previously, he was a pioneer in the ehealth space (startup now part of CVS) and a strategic management consultant at Bain and Company. While earning his MBA at Stanford, he focused on medical technology innovation. He received bachelor degree from UC Berkeley after growing up in both Mexico City and San Diego, California.
Alison Rowland | Co-Founder & Principal | Percepta Assoc. | Bioscience Mkt ResearchAlison brings to Percepta broad and deep experience in international sales and marketing of life science research products. With over two decades of professional experience in the bioscience industry, she has gained a reputation for creating marketing leadership. Prior to founding Percepta in 2005, Alison served as Vice President of Marketing at Invitrogen (now Life Technologies). At Invitrogen Alison was responsible for the growing family of corporate and product brands, and her team was responsible for the conception and production of Invitrogen’s industry-leading advertising campaigns, web site and print collateral. Throughout her career Alison has either directly managed, during her tenure in industry, or been responsible for leading consulting projects in the areas of: strategic planning; corporate identity; brand strategy and development; forecasting; product marketing; marketing communications; international distribution; acquisition identification, evaluation and integration.
Alison is widely regarded for her insightful approach, pragmatic attitude and honed set of marketing skills and operates effectively at high level strategy as well as tactical execution.