|
Since 2001, Mr. Piazza has been a member of our board of directors and was recently named CEO of the Company. Mr. Piazza brings over 35 years of experience managing both public and VC-backed healthcare companies ranging from startup device and biotechnology companies to firms with world wide operations and thousands of employee. He served in numerous CEO positions including MAXIA Pharmaceuticals, VitaGen Inc., Marquest, Smith & Nephew SoloPak, Stimetics and Biolectron, as well as General Manager of Worldwide Medical Equipment at Ohmeda.
With experience that includes all sectors or healthcare (pharmaceuticals, biotech, devices & services), Mr. Piazza has created a reputation as a focused operating manager with intimate knowledge of the Healthcare industry's dynamics. He has an established track record in high growth companies, new technology development, product launches and company turn-arounds. Included in this is extensive experience in acquiring and divesting both technologies and companies in often-complex transactions. In addition to his operating experience, Mr. Piazza has raised over $150 million in both the private equity and public markets and has worked extensively with the nation's premier healthcare venture capital funds.
Mr. Piazza has significant Board experience and has been a Director of AdvaMed (National Association of Medical Device and Diagnostic manufacturers, Biocom (San Diego's premier association of Biotech Companies), Dean's Committee, UCSD School of Medicine, Everest & Jennings Intl. Committed to advancing new technology, Piazza served on the AdvaMed committee that worked successfully with the FDA and the legislature to introduce The Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act. His industry involvement also includes being an active member and adviser to BioHouston and a supporter of the Rice University Healthcare Alliance. In addition, he has been a consistent guest lecturer at universities including the University of Wisconsin, UCLA, USC, UC San Diego, and San Diego State. Mr. Piazza received his Bachelor of Science degree in Economics, his A.A.S. degree in Business, and his Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Pathology from the State University of New York. | 