Business Success | About VGXI Leadership

Executive Team

Young K. Park

President and Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Park joined VGX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. as one of the founding members and worked to successfully establish VGX International, Inc. in Korea. With extensive business management and legal experience in building successful corporations, he was instrumental in securing funding and establishing relationships with other biotechnology companies to enable pipeline development, strategic licensing, and acquisitions.Read More » As a Board Member of VGX International, Inc., Mr. Park also facilitated its successful acquisition of VGXI, Inc., a contract manufacturing organization (CMO) unit in 2008. In 2013, VGX International was renamed GeneOne Life Science. Headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, GeneOne is a leading biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development and contract manufacturing of gene-based biomedicines, including DNA vaccines. (“GeneOne” KOSPI: 011000) Mr. Park obtained his law degree from University of Pennsylvania and his M.B.A. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management.Read Less »

Dorothy Peterson

Chief Operating Officer

Ms. Peterson joined the VGXI team in 2007 as the Director of Quality, responsible for both Quality Assurance/Compliance and Quality Control. She played an integral role in implementing the company’s Quality System and was promoted to Vice President of Operations in 2011 and COO in 2018. Ms. Peterson came to VGXI with over 20 years of experience in the medical device industry, complying with FDA regulations in both startup and established organizations. Read More » Ms. Peterson relocated to Houston, TX from San Diego, CA where she was VP of Operations at Qualigen, Inc. which included the responsibility for quality and regulatory. While at Qualigen, she successfully submitted several 510(k) applications and led the company through multiple regulatory agency audits including ISO 13485 to gain the CE mark. Prior to Qualigen, Ms. Peterson was at Hybritech, Inc. (a subsidiary of Beckman-Coulter) for 14 years where she held multiple positions in both the quality and manufacturing organizations. Ms. Peterson received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. Read Less »

Management Team

Jim Kraus

Sr. Director, Information Technology

Mr. Kraus currently serves as Sr. Director, Information Technology. He first joined the company as IT Director in 2002. In 2004 he spent two years as a network consultant before returning to the company as a contractor and consultant in 2006. Mr. Kraus is responsible for the security and maintenance of all VGXI systems and software. He oversees hardware purchases and installation to ensure software compliance, functionality, and efficiency. He also manages upgrades to software, systems, and technology configurations. Read More » Prior to joining VGXI, Mr. Kraus held positions as IT manager at GeneMedicine, Network Administration Manager at Lexicon Genetics, Systems Engineer at GeneMedicine, and Field Service Engineer and Software Analyst for Honeywell Federal Systems Inc. in Reston, Va. and HoneywellBull, Inc. in Houston, Texas. Mr. Kraus received his education at Sam Houston State University.Read Less »

Brenda Reichert, SHRM-CP

Director, Human Resources

Ms. Reichert joined VGXI in 2001 and served as the Human Resources Specialist and Manager before being promoted to Director in 2016. As one of the original employees she possesses a wealth of knowledge on the company’s history and has played a key role in developing VGXI’s corporate culture. She is responsible for all areas of Human Resources for VGXI Read More » including handling employee relations, ensuring compliance with all applicable regulations, managing staffing needs, and overseeing employee onboarding and training programs. Ms. Reichert holds a Certified Professional certification from the Society of Human Resources Management.
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Jeffrey Darnell

Director, Facilities

Mr. Darnell joined the VGXI team in 2001 as the Facilities Manager. He designed VGXI’s production facilities and oversaw construction of 4 cGMP suites as well as the Process Development and Quality Control Laboratories. In Mr. Darnell’s current position as Director of Facilities, he oversees all aspects of facilities maintenance and operations, repair, building code compliance, renovations, and construction activities for VGXI. His experience includes 20+ years in facilities management, construction, and maintenance of equipment, machinery, buildings and other facilities. Read More » Mr. Darnell has held previous positions with Lexicon, Gene Medicine, and Johnson Controls. He holds numerous certifications in Commercial HVAC Systems, Automation Control Systems, and critical PLC-Controlled Systems.Read Less »

Christy Franco, Ph.D.

Sr. Manager, Business Development

Ms. Franco joined VGXI as Business Development Manager in 2014. Prior to VGXI she worked for several years as Director of Research and Product Development for an early stage gene therapy platform company, Twister Biotech. Ms. Franco has over 8 years of laboratory experience covering areas of gene and cell therapy, fermentation process development, and biomaterial design and characterization.Read More » During her time in industry Ms. Franco has also acquired in-depth business development, marketing, and sales experience. Ms. Franco obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, and holds a Ph.D. in Bioengineering from Rice University in Houston, TX.
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Jared Nelson

Sr. Manager, Manufacturing

Mr. Nelson joined VGXI in 2007 and has served as VGXI's Manufacturing Manager since 2012. During his time at VGXI he has held multiple manufacturing positions and currently oversees all activities related to the production of clinical grade plasmid DNA pharmaceuticals. His responsibilities include coordinating and managing processes related to GMP cell banking, microbial fermentation, harvest and downstream purification, and GMP fill/finish operations for vialed products.Read More » Mr. Nelson has additionally played a critical role in enabling multiple expansions and upgrades to VGXI’s GMP manufacturing suites. Before joining VGXI, Mr. Nelson served in the US Army for 15 years where he was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor for actions in Iraq. He successfully completed both the US Army Ranger School and The Sapper Leader’s Course. Mr. Nelson received his degree in Biotechnology from Lone Star College in Conroe, Texas.
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Ramu Rameswaran

Sr. Manager, Quality Control

Ms. Rameswaran joined VGXI in 2007 and has served as VGXI’s Quality Control Manager since 2012. She has 18 years of previous experience in the Pharma and medical device industries, working in a GMP environment at companies including GlaxoSmithKline, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Kensey Nash Corporation.Read More » Her primary responsibilities at VGXI include QC assay coordination, environmental monitoring, oversight of in-process, release, stability, and raw material testing, assay validations, review of testing records, and assistance with regulatory submissions. Ms. Rameswaran received her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from West Chester University and is a member of the American Chemical Society.
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Shane Johnson

Sr. Manager, Quality Assurance

Mr. Johnson joined VGXI in 2003 and has served as VGXI’s Quality Assurance Manager since 2012. He came to VGXI from Tanox where he served as a Quality Control Analyst. Mr. Johnson’s primary responsibility is maintenance of the VGXI Quality system. Read More » This responsibility includes reviewing and approving batch records, specifications, sampling plans and labels, assisting with regulatory submissions, coordinating equipment validation activities, conducting internal and vendor audits, and management of the quality training program. Mr. Johnson received his degree in Biotechnology from Lone Star College in Conroe, Texas.Read Less »

Stephanie Burke

Sr. Manager, Accounting & Materials

Ms. Burke joined the VGXI team in 2015 as the Accounting Manager with over 15 years’ prior experience in the accounting field. She oversees the Accounts Payable department and is responsible for compiling all financials, coordinating and supporting financial audits, preparing and monitoring all budgets, and cost accounting. Ms. Burke is also responsible for the Materials department, forecasting and ensuring that materials are available for all production and testing activities. Read More » During her tenure, she has worked diligently to streamline the Accounting department in order to ensure continued adherence to GAAP standards as well as KRX (Korean Stock Exchange) requirements. She played a major role in the implementation of MISys, the VGXI Inventory Control system. Before joining VGXI, Ms. Burke served as the General Manager for International Expo Service, Inc., a trade show exhibit builder and I&D service company. Ms. Burke received her Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Washington State University in Pullman, Washington.
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Stephen Rodriguez

Sr. Manager, Process Development

Mr. Rodriguez joined VGXI in 2007 and has over 11 years of experience in plasmid DNA manufacturing. As a core member of both the Process Development and Manufacturing teams, his focus has been towards increasing plasmid yield and quality in both upstream and downstream facets of production. He has played a critical role in identifying, testing, and implementing disposable technology and executing scale up into the cGMP manufacturing facility.Read More » Mr. Rodriguez also represents VGXI as the SME for technology transfer for Phase III/commercial production of plasmid DNA. Mr. Rodriguez holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological and Physical Sciences from the University of Houston.
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Greg Cogburn

Manager, Manufacturing

Mr. Cogburn joined VGXI in 2010 and has served as VGXI’s Manufacturing Manager since 2019. He has held multiple positions within the manufacturing department and currently oversees all GMP processes for production of plasmid DNA, from cell banking, upstream and downstream production, to fill/finish operations. Mr. Cogburn maintains a heavy focus on cGMP compliance to ensure VGXI produces the highest quality clinical grade plasmid DNA. Read More » He has been instrumental in implementation of single-use technologies and process improvement in downstream production, as well as validation of processes and equipment used in production. Mr. Cogburn received his Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology from the University of Oklahoma.
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Leadership