Management
Tom Boyd: Age 70. Mr. Boyd is Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of EDP Biotech Corporation. He is founder and past CEO of Fi-Shock, Inc., founder and past CEO of Mark Electronics, founder and past CEO of I-Shop, Inc, and founder and past CEO of the Boyd Group. Mr. Boyd presently serves on the board of Radio Systems, Inc. (PetSafe™) and BioPet Vet Lab.
James E. Simpson: Age 38. Mr. Simpson is Chief Operations Officer and President of EDP Biotech Corporation. Prior to joining EDP Biotech, Mr. Simpson was a Vice President with Fifth Third Bank’s Structured Finance Group from 2000 to 2005. From 1997 to 2000, Mr. Simpson was a Senior Vice President with First American Bank’s Corporate Lending Group. From 1990 to 1997, Mr. Simpson held various positions with the National Bank of Canada with his final position being Vice President of the U.S. Corporate Lending Group. Mr. Simpson received his B.S. in Accounting from the University of Tennessee.
Kevin D. Jones, PhD: Age 41. Dr. Jones is Chief Scientific Officer of EDP Biotech Corporation. Dr. Jones moved into Biotechnoloogy over 16 year ago at BioCell (now known as British Biocell International). After working briefly as a consultant he joined Whatman as Technology Manager Diagnostics in 1997. In 2003 He moved to the US and became Technical Marketing Manager Diagnostics. In the last 16 years Kevin has authored 12 papers, 34 posters and 6 patents on rapid diagnostics. He is a regular speaker at conferences including those sponsored by the AACC; IFCC; JSCLA; BIVDA and CHI. Kevin has served on committees at BIVDA and the CLSI, and also is a member of the IVD Technology Editorial advisory board. Kevin holds a BSc and PhD in Chemistry from the University of Wales.
Meg Retinger: Age 51. Chief Administrative Officer of EDP Biotech Corporation. Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Emory and Henry College, 1976. ABS Computer Science from Draughon’s Junior College, 1980. Fi-Shock, Inc. Corporate Secretary and Treasurer, 1985 – 2005. Fi-Shock, Inc. Vice President of Administration, 1985 – 1999. President of Fi-Shock, Inc. 1999 – 2004. Chief Administrative Officer of Fi-Shock, Inc. 2004 - 2005.
Board of Directors
Tom Boyd: Age 70. Mr. Boyd is Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of EDP Biotech Corporation. He is founder and past CEO of Fi-Shock, Inc., founder and past CEO of Mark Electronics, founder and past CEO of I-Shop, Inc, and founder and past CEO of the Boyd Group. Mr. Boyd presently serves on the board of Radio Systems, Inc. (PetSafe™).
Jeff Peters: Age 56. Joined the White Stone Group in February 2001, is current President and COO. The White Stone Group was recognized in 2004 by INC magazine as one of the 500 fastest growing privately held companies. Prior to the Whitestone Group, he was President of Interactive Pictures, or IPIX. While at IPIX he was involved in a private placement financing round for $28M and an IPO, which raised $72M. Prior to joining IPIX, he was Vice President/General Manager of Kodak’s Digital Imaging Group. Mr. Peters, who has more than 20 years of management experience, held a variety of executive positions in marketing, operations, development, and manufacturing, including General Manager of several divisions of Harris Corporation’s Semiconductor Sector. He was responsible for leading the Harris integration team during the acquisition of GE’s semiconductor business. Mr. Peters holds a BS degree in Chemistry from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Florida Institute of Technology.
Jon Koncak: Age 45. Lead investor with JCL and Concepto since 2000. Mr. Koncak’s experience with JCL and Concepto products over the last 5 years will contribute to EDP Biotech’s overall marketing and distribution plans. Mr. Koncak attended Southern Methodist University, majoring in Mechanical Engineering and minoring in Psychology. A member of the Gold Medal winning 1984 USA Olympic basketball team, Mr. Koncak was drafted as the 5th player of the first round of the 1985 NBA draft. Mr, Koncak played professional basketball for the Atlanta Hawks from 1985–1995 and for the Orlando Magic from 1995-1997.
Randy Boyd: Age 48. Founded Radio Systems Corporation (PetSafe™) in January 1991. He has served as chairman of the board and president of the corporation since its inception. Mr. Boyd also founded Saco, Inc. (SACO), a farm supply distribution company, in January 1983. He has served as chairman of the board and president of SACO since its inception. Before founding SACO, he served in several positions including Director of International Sales and Vice President of Sales for Fi-Shock, Inc., a manufacturer of electric fencing equipment. Mr. Boyd was voted entrepreneur of the year in the Southeastern United States and entrepreneur of the year in the state of Tennessee.
Michael J. Spalding M.D.: Age 67. Dr. Spalding has been in private practice of urology in Nashville, TN for thirty five years. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Prevalence Health, Jackson, MS., Qualigen, Carlsbad, CA., and Innovative Health Systems in Atlanta GA. He is Past President of the Kidney Foundation of Nashville, Tennessee Valley Lithotripsy, and Middle Tennessee Urological Society.
L. Dean Knoll, M.D.: Age 54. Dr. Knoll is a practicing urologist at the Center for Urological Treatment in Nashville, TN. He is Medical Director for Medical Research Associates of Nashville, and Physician Advisor, Cialis National Marketing Brand Team, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN. He also serves as National Lead Facilitator, Training (Urological) Cadaver Workshops, American Medical Systems, Minnetonka, MN, National Medical Advisor/Proctor, Cook Urological, Spencer, IN, National Vesicare Speaker’s Bureau, GlaxoSmithKline Research, Triangle Park, NC, National Sanctura Speaker’s Bureau, Allergan Pharmaceutical, Irvine, CA and National Urological Advisor, Medacorp (Leerink Swann Venture) Boston MA
Douglas Yoakley: Age 52. Mr. Yoakley is a CPA with 30 years experience and co-founded the regional CPA firm of Pershing Yoakley & Associates ('PYA') in 1983 which is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee and has offices in Georgia, Florida and Texas. Doug specializes in taxation of for-profit entities and has served on numerous private company Boards including one SEC registrant. In his professional career Doug has represented numerous clients before the Internal Revenue Service and has been extensively involved with formation of new companies including acquisition of capital investment. Doug is also a principal in several affiliates of PYA including a registered investment advisory firm, a real estate consulting/investment firm and a valuation firm. Doug also serves on three community not-for-profit Boards and is a principal in the Knoxville Ice Bears, a minor-league professional hockey team. Doug is married and has three children.
Scientific Advisory Board
Dr. Herbert A. Fritsche is Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Chief of the Clinical Chemistry Section at The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. During his 37 years at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. Fritsche has focused his research activities on the development and validation of cancer diagnostics. Dr. Fritsche has participated in the validation and FDA clearance process for every commercial serum tumor marker product currently in use in the United States.
Dr. Fritsche has served as President of the Clinical Ligand Assay Society (CLAS) and on various committees for both the CLAS and the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC). He is a fellow of the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry and was awarded the National Award for Contributions in Education by the AACC; the Outstanding Clinical Chemist Award by the Texas Section, AACC; a Dean's Excellence Award for the University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Science; a Distinguished Scientist Award from the CLAS; and the Johnson and Johnson Award for Outstanding Research and Contributions to Clinical Biochemistry from the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry. Dr. Fritsche currently serves on the Expert Panel for developing Tumor Marker Practice Guidelines for the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the Laboratory Practice Guidelines Committee for the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry. In addition, he serves on the Editorial Board of six international scientific journals.
Dr. Fritsche serves as a consultant/advisor to the National Cancer Institute and for some major international diagnostic companies and biotech start-up companies. Dr. Fritsche has published over 170 peered reviewed scientific papers, invited articles and book chapters. Dr. Fritsche holds 3 patents and has 2 other applications on file. He has lectured extensively for many years at international and national meetings.
R. Daniel Beauchamp, M.D., F.A.C.S. is the John Clinton Foshee Distinguished Professor of Surgery, Chairman of the Section of Surgical Sciences, and Surgeon-in-Chief of Vanderbilt University Hospital and has held these positions since July 2001. He also has joint appointments as professor in the departments of Cell and Developmental Biology and Cancer Biology. He also serves as Associate Director for Clinical/Translational Programs in the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. Dr. Beauchamp joined the faculty of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center as Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology and Associate Professor of Cell Biology in December 1994. His ongoing institutional administrative responsibilities also include the Chair of the Perioperative Enterprise Committee, and service on the Perioperative Executive Committee, the VMG Executive Committee, the Medical School Executive Committee, the Clinical Enterprise Group, the Quality Council, the ELEVATE Steering Committee, and the Surgical Critical Care Steering Committee.
Dr. Beauchamp came to Vanderbilt from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, where he was Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery and the Department of Human Biological Chemistry and Genetics. The activities of Dr. Beauchamp over the past decade support the Vanderbilt mission of education, patient care, and research. During his UTMB tenure Dr. Beauchamp served as an attending faculty member for the General Surgery Service, the Surgery Tumor Clinic, and the Surgical Intensive Care Unit. During his last four years there he chaired the Residency Review Committee for General Surgery. While at UTMB, Dr. Beauchamp was also director of the James E. Thompson Memorial Molecular Biology Laboratory for Surgical Research.
Dr. Beauchamp has a clinical practice at Vanderbilt University focused in Surgical Oncology. He cares for patients with a broad spectrum of malignancies, including gastrointestinal tract cancers, breast cancer, melanoma and soft tissue sarcoma. Dr. Beauchamp participates in the multidisciplinary GI Oncology clinic every Wednesday and holds clinic in the Vanderbilt Breast Center on Thursday mornings. He uses the clinical settings to teach residents and medical students, in a one-on-one setting and in small groups. In addition, he regularly leads an Evidence-based Medicine teaching session with the entire group of Surgical Residents and medical students on the General Surgery Clerkship rotation.
In addition to clinical practice and administrative responsibilities, Dr. Beauchamp has a productive research laboratory. He spent two years (1987-1989) conducting basic growth factor research in the Department of Cell Biology at Vanderbilt under the direction of Dr. Harold Moses after completion of his residency at UTMB. After two years in Dr. Moses' laboratory Dr. Beauchamp returned to UTMB as assistant professor in the departments of Surgery and Human Biological Chemistry and Genetics. His research fellowship was funded by the National Cancer Institute in the form of a Physician Scientist Award, which supported his work for 5 years post-residency. Since completion of his surgical residency, Dr. Beauchamp's research work has maintained and has been continually funded by the NIH and other extramural funding agencies. He currently has two active R01 grants from the NIH, and is a project leader for the Gastrointestinal Cancer Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) Grant.
Dr.Beauchamp's primary area of interest has been in colorectal carcinogenesis and in the development of novel biomarkers and therapeutic strategies in colorectal and other alimentary tract malignancies. Recently published work from Dr. Beauchamp's laboratory has identified a tight junction protein, Claudin-1, to have a previously unknown role in the promotion of invasive and metastatic behavior in colon cancer cells. He is also using cutting edge DNA microarray and proteomic technology to identify novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets in human colorectal cancer samples collected from the Vanderbilt University surgical practice. In addition to the basic cancer research Dr. Beauchamp has been a participant in the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, and works in collaboration with his Medical Oncology and Radiation Oncology colleagues to accrue cancer patients to approved clinical trials.
Dr. Beauchamp is active in several national surgical and scientific organizations. He is a member of the Society of University Surgeons where he served as President in 1999, and was on the Executive Council for 10 years. He is also a member of the American Society of Clinical Investigation, the Society for Surgical Oncology, the Association for Academic Surgeons, the Southern Surgical Association, the American Surgical Association, the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, the American Association for Cancer Research, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Gastroenterology Association, the Halsted Society and the American Society for Cell Biology, among others. He serves or has served on the Editorial Boards of the Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, the Journal of Surgical Research, Surgery, the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, Contemporary Surgery, and the Annals of Surgical Oncology. He is also an Associate Editor for the Sabiston Textbook of Surgery.
John J. Costanzi, M.D., is the Director of Lone Star Oncology, and is internationally known in the field of oncology. Dr. Costanzi attended medical school and completed his residency at Georgetown University Medical School in Washington, D.C.. He completed post-graduate training at Walter Reed General Hospital, D.C. and Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. Before beginning his Austin practice, Dr. Costanzi was Professor of Medicine and Director of the Cancer Center at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston and subsequently Director of the Thompson Cancer Center, Knoxville, Tennessee.
Dr. Costanzi is board certified in Medical oncology and internal medicine and is considered a leading expert in the treatment of cancer, being an invited Professor and lecturer at many Universities in the U.S. and abroad. Dr. Costanzi has received numerous awards and is an active participant in many organizations, including the American Cancer Society, The Texas Medical Association and the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Dr. Walter Threlfall: Dr. Threlfall is Head of the Theriogenology Area in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences and Director of Continuing Education at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine.
He received his DVM degree from The Ohio State University and an MS in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery as well as a PhD in reproductive physiology from the University of Missouri where he also completed a residency in Theriogenology. He is board certified by The American College of Theriogenologists, and is past president of the College. He served for seven years as the delegate to the American Veterinary Medical Association representing the Society for Theriogenology and currently is the Delegate to the AVMA representing the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association.
Dr. Threlfall has served on the AVMA Convention Management and Program Committee as Manager of the Bovine, Small Ruminant, Equine, Porcine, Aquatic and Alternative Medicine Program. He is a Trustee for the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association and has served in that capacity for ten years. He has served as the chairman of the Midwest Veterinary Conference Equine Program Committee. He has spoken at many state, national and international meetings, and has published more than 80 scientific articles and more than 50 chapters in numerous textbooks. He has advised over 40 graduate students and residents. He has been honored for his teaching techniques both locally and nationally, and has received educational grants to explore improved methods of instruction.
Additionally, Dr. Threlfall has been an active member of his community serving on the Liberty Township Zoning Commission and as past Chairman of the Liberty Township Board of Appeals. He is currently on the Delaware County City/County Board of Health of which he has been president for the past 9 years of his 12 years of service. He was also on the Board of Directors for the Ohio Quarter Horse Association for 15 years.
Dr. Threlfall is currently the immediate Past-President of the Western Veterinary Conference. The Western Veterinary Conference is the largest veterinary conference in the world.