The AVANZA Leadership Team

Carlos E. Orantes, BS, MBA – President & CEO

Mr. Orantes has experience in the pre clinical services sector of the drug development industry dating back to the early 1990s.  This includes senior executive management roles for large and small, private and publicly held entities, as well as domestic and international companies.  He is a founder and the President & CEO of AVANZA Laboratories.  Previous roles include General Manager and Vice President at Bridge Laboratories, Vice President of Operations at Gene Logic Laboratories, and Champion of Operational Excellence and various other roles at Covance Laboratories.  He utilizes his leadership experience and background in LEAN and Six Sigma as a Greenbelt, Blackbelt, and Champion to make customer focus and excellence in execution a priority at AVANZA.  Mr. Orantes holds a BS in Biology from George Washington University and an MBA from Old Dominion University.

 

 

Jean Pineault, MS – Chief Business Officer

Mr. Pineault has experience in the drug development industry dating back to the mid 1990's and currently serves as Chief Business Officer of AVANZA Laboratories.  Prior to AVANZA, Mr. Pineault was Executive Vice President & Chief Business Development Officer for ClinOps, LLC, a US Clinical Operations, Data Management and Biometrics company.  Earlier he was General Manager and Vice President Sales & Marketing for Tandem Labs, a leading US BioAnalytical and Immunanalytical service provider and Strategic Business Unit Manager for Maxxam Analytics, a Canadian BioAnalytical services provider.  His bachelor’s degree in biotechnology and master’s degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology are from the University of Ottawa.

 

 

Steven Godin, PhD, DABT - Chief Scientific Officer

Dr. Godin has experience in the contract research arena dating back to the mid 1980s, resulting in a diverse and unique combination of experience and leadership.  He currently serves as the Chief Scientific Officer, responsible for overall scientific leadership and direction of the toxicology program.  Most recently he served as Senior Director of Toxicology for Bridge Laboratories and has held other scientific and leadership roles at Gene Logic Laboratories, MPI Research, White Eagle Laboratories, and Cephalon.  Dr. Godin has published more than 30 manuscripts in scientific journals and presented over 50 abstracts at national and international meetings.  His areas of expertise include: ocular toxicity and PK studies, safety studies of oncology products, vaccine safety and biodistribution studies involving several novel routes of administration, reproductive toxicity studies in canines and felines, target animal safety studies of veterinary pharmaceuticals, juvenile toxicology studies, dermal toxicity, and wound healing studies.  Dr. Godin holds a BA in Biology from the University of Massachusetts, a MS in Biology from the University of Kentucky, and a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Kentucky and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology.

 

 

Chuck Hatcher, BS - Executive Director, Operations

Mr. Hatcher has experience in the contract research field dating back to the 1980s.  This includes hands on technical roles to several management responsibilities.  Currently he serves as the head of Operations for AVANZA. Previous roles include Director of Laboratory Services and Facilities for Bridge Laboratories, Director of Costing, Planning & Management for Gene Logic Laboratories, and other management roles for Therimmune Research Corporation and Covance Laboratories.  He holds a BS in Biology from the University of Richmond and has earned an LAT from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS).

 

 

 

Carol S. Spicer, BS – Executive Director, Quality, Compliance & Support Services

Ms. Spicer has experience in the contract research field dating back to the mid 1980s, including hands on technical to several management roles.  Currently she serves as the head of Quality, Compliance & Support Services for AVANZA. Previous roles include Director of Quality & Support Services for Bridge Laboratories, Senior Manager for Training & Support Services for Gene Logic Laboratories, and several technical and management roles for Covance Laboratories.  She holds a BA in Biology from the University of Delaware.

 

 

 

 

Kory Engelke, PhD, DABT – Executive Director, Product Development Services (PDS)

Dr. Engelke has experience in the drug development industry in the pharmaceutical and contract research sectors dating back to the 1990s.  Dr. Engelke is able to utilize his previous experience on multidisciplinary drug development teams to successfully design, monitor, submit, and defend preclinical sections of worldwide regulatory documents in support of clinical development.  Prior roles include Executive Director of Toxicology Services at Bridge Laboratories, Senior Director of Toxicology at Gene Logic Laboratories, Study Director at Battelle Memorial Institute, and several senior scientific roles at Sucampo Pharmaceuticals and Guilford Pharmaceuticals.  He was responsible for the successful submission, defense, and label negotiation of an approved marketed product.  Dr. Engelke holds a PhD in Pharmacology from the University of Vermont, a BS in Biochemical Sciences from the University of Vermont, and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology.

 

 

Monica Vegarra, BS – Executive Director, Toxicology Support Services

Ms. Vegarra has experience in the contract research arena dating back to the late 1980s.  Currently she serves as a Study Director and also manages the Toxicology Support Services group.  Prior to this she was the Director of Vivarium Operations for Bridge Laboratories, Senior Manager of Operations for Gene Logic Laboratories, and Study Director at Covance Laboratories.  She holds a BS in Biology from Bowie State University.