Leadership Team

VGXI’s experienced and diverse leadership team is comprised of industry visionaries and experienced professionals who drive our mission of Plasmid DNA innovation and pDNA manufacturing excellence. With their proven expertise, VGXI is well positioned to lead the charge in driving transformative breakthroughs in the development of advanced therapies with our best-in-class Plasmid DNA products and services.

Executive Team

Young K. Park

President and Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Park serves as CEO for both GeneOne Life Science, Inc. (KOSPI: 011000) and VGXI, Inc., a GeneOne company. Over the past 15 years, he has overseen the explosive growth of VGXI into the global leader in the manufacture of cGMP DNA plasmids central to gene-based biomedicines, including cell and gene therapies, and DNA vaccines. Mr. Park obtained a B.A. in Economics from Dickinson College, a J.D. from University of Pennsylvania Law School, and an M.S. in Finance and Applied Economics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management.

Jeff Whitmore

Chief Commercial Officer

Mr. Whitmore joined VGXI in 2023 as Chief Commercial Officer to expand commercial operations and the services offered to the molecular therapeutic marketplace. Jeff recently served as CCO at Genezen, a Cell & Gene Therapy CDMO focused on viral vector production. Prior to this, he has held a multitude of leadership positions such as Vice President of Commercial Operations at mRNA therapeutic CDMO, TriLink BioTechnologies, part of Maravai LifeSciences, Biomatrica, a biostability technology company, and Singulex, a manufacturer of immunodiagnostics makers. Jeff is a disruptive entrepreneurial thinker with serial success in identifying a company’s future value and positioning it for acquisition or public offering. Deep expertise in creating strategies, structure, global sales channels, and commercial teams that drive revenue to maximize corporate value. He skillfully tackles product development and operations to bring technologies to market, benefiting brands, clients, and investors.

Michael L. Stewart

Chief Operations Officer

Michael Stewart joined VGXI in 2024 as Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead VGXI’s top-tier DNA plasmid manufacturing services and operations. Prior to joining VGXI’s leadership team, Stewart served as COO at Matica Biotechnology, a CDMO that provides manufacturing solutions for cell and gene therapy drug developers. Stewart also previously held leadership roles at leading research and manufacturing organizations including Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, Boehringer-Ingelheim Biomanufacturing, Meridian Life Science, and St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Stewart brings over 20 years of extensive experience in the viral vector therapy and vaccine production industry. Stewart holds a B.S. and M.S. degrees in chemistry and biochemistry from the Texas A&M University System, followed by a Ph.D. studies in biochemistry at the University of Tennessee and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, focusing on the structural and functional amino acid substitutions that result in an oncogenic state. Additionally, Stewart has a distinguished military background, having served as a medical corpsman with the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps and contributing to DOD research related to gravitationally induced loss of consciousness.

Stephanie Burke

Chief Accounting Officer

Stephanie Burke is the Chief Accounting Officer (CAO) for VGXI. She joined the company in 2015, bringing more than a decade of accounting and leadership experience to the company. During her time with VGXI, Ms. Burke has led not only the Accounting/Finance team, but also the Materials team, coordinating all cost accounting and inventory control, and providing guidance through implementation of MISys (VGXI’s MRP system).

Ms. Burke previously served as the Financial Controller with Manuli RYCO / Fliuconnecto, a manufacturer and distributor of hydraulic products worldwide. Ms. Burke also held the role of General Manager for International Expo Service, an exhibit builder and service company for the trade show industry.

Ms. Burke received her Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Washington State University.

Management Team

Brenda Reichert, SHRM-CP

Sr. 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 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.

Jeffrey Darnell

Sr. 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 Sr. 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. 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.

Jared Nelson

Director, 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. 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.

Stephen Rodriguez

Director, Process Development

Mr. Rodriguez joined VGXI in 2007 and has extensive 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. 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.

Christy Franco, Ph.D.

Director, Commercial Operations

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. 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.

Ramu Rameswaran

Director, Quality Control

Ms. Rameswaran joined VGXI in 2007 and has overseen VGXI’s Quality Control team 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. 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.

Shane Johnson

Director, Quality Assurance

Mr. Johnson joined VGXI in 2003 and has overseen VGXI’s Quality Assurance team 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. 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.

Justin Smith

Director, Marketing

Mr. Smith joined VGXI as the Director of Marketing in 2023. Prior to VGXI, he led Discovery Life Sciences’ global marketing efforts for their cell and gene therapy business unit, AllCells. Justin has over 13 years of experience in leading marketing programs and commercial operations within the life sciences, including 5 years of active-duty military service in the United States Marine Corps. He specializes in positioning cell and gene therapy solutions as well as launching highly technical CDMO products and spearheading collaborative partnerships across the biotechnology industry. Justin holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of California at Davis and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Political Science from Columbia University in New York City.

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Leadership Team

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