Leadership & Governance

Key Ownership/Investors

The major ownership position and day-to-day operations of Arkion® Life Sciences are controlled by the committee of managers: Earnest W. Porta, President and CEO; Rick L. Stejskal, VP and CFO; and Thomas A. Jerrell, VP-Research and Development. Minority ownership is held by the following: MCP Investment Company, LLC (Archer-Daniels Midland); DCV, Inc.; LDB Management Group, LLC; and Rhonda Mendoza.

In October of 2002, Arkion® sold 60% of its interest in a subsidiary, Legacy for Life LLC of Melbourne, Florida, and then sold an additional 20% interest in July of 2007. Arkion® retains 20% interest in Legacy for Life, LLC, and Legacy is Arkion®'s exclusive distributor for certain products in the Dietary Health Supplement market.

Key Management/Personnel:

Operating Committee of Arkion® Life Sciences:

President/CEO, Arkion® Life Sciences — Earnest W. Porta

In July 2001, Mr. Porta became CEO of Arkion® Life Sciences. He held a similar position with DCV Inc.,from 1997 through 2001. From 1992 through 1997, he was President and Managing Director of DCV, Inc. Mr. Porta spent 17 years with DuPont in various operational capacities including management positions in research and development, marketing, and general management. From 1987 to 1992 he managed the DuPont methanol derivatives business and formed a number of joint ventures between DuPont and other companies. He received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Drexel Institute of Technology in 1965 and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Clarkson College of Technology in 1972.

Chief Financial Officer, Arkion® Life Sciences — Rick L. Stejskal

Mr. Stejskal has been with Arkion® Life Sciences as the CFO since its founding in 2001. Prior to that he held a similar position as Vice President of Financial Operations with DCV for nine years. From 1990 through 1992 he was Vice President-Controller of DuCoa a DuPont ConAgra joint venture with annual sales in excess of $100 million. From 1984 through 1990, Mr. Stejskal served in a number of audit, finance and accounting positions for ConAgra Inc. During the four years prior to that he worked as an internal auditor for the George A. Hormel Company. He holds a B.S. in Agricultural Economics and Business Administration from Kansas State University.

President, Bio-Technical Resources* and
Vice President of Research and Development, Arkion® Life Sciences — Thomas A. Jerrell

Mr. Jerrell has been with Arkion® and DCV since 1995 as its Director of Research and then V.P. of Research and Development. From 1990-1995 he was employed by DuPont but on loan to DCV, holding positions during that time as an engineering manager, a biochemical project manager and the person responsible for leading the Company's efforts in the Chitin and Chitosan areas. From 1973-1990, he worked at DuPont in a number of engineering and operations management positions. Mr. Jerrell received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois in 1973 and a M.S.I.A. degree from Purdue University.

Airepel®** Management Team:

President — Chris Widrig

Mr. Widrig joined Arkion in 2003 as the President of Airepel.  He has 25+ years of industrial experience. Prior to joining Arkion, he spent the previous seven years in executive management positions with a DuPont joint venture, Royal-Dutch Shell (E&P), and Rhodia Eco Services where he had full P&L responsibility for a $200 million enterprise. He started his career with DuPont and held increasingly more responsible positions with the firm. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering and an MBA.

Vice President-New Business Development — Ken Ballinger

Mr. Ballinger holds key management positions in two developing businesses: FlightControl® Plus and crop seed treatment. He has been with Airepel®'s parent, Arkion® Life Sciences, since 1993 and has been responsible for developing the various uses for anthraquinone. Mr. Ballinger holds patents on FlightControl® Plus and other uses of anthraquinone. He graduated from Bowdoin College with a Bachelor's Degree in Biology. He received his MBA from Long Island University in Marketing. His business experience has been with Johnson & Johnson and DuPont in Health Care Sales and Marketing Management and Business Development.

Other Key Personnel:

Vice President-Marketing, Arkion® Life Sciences — Sam Walker

Mr. Walker is the N-Sure®*** team leader and VP of Marketing for Arkion® Life Sciences. He holds a Bachelors of Science degree from the University of Illinois in Animal Science and Business. He has over 30 years experience in the animal feed and animal health industries, mostly with Pfizer Animal Health Group. Sam has held a variety of positions in sales, marketing and management and has been involved in the launch of over 20 new products and product uses. He has extensive experience in the United States and international animal health markets.

Vice President-Product Development-Biologics, Arkion® Life Sciences — Subramanian Iyer

Dr. Iyer, joined DCV in 1997 as a Senior Research Scientist. He received his B.S. in Microbiology from South Gujarat University (India), M.S. in Biochemistry from the Maharaja Sayyaji Rao University (India) and obtained his Ph.D. in Immunology from the Institute for Research in Reproduction (India). He did his Post Doctoral research at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in tissue specific transcriptional regulation of the chicken Vitellogenin genes and at DuPont Pharmaceuticals in "Role of p53 in DNA repair and cancer".

 

    *Bio-Technical Resources is Arkion®'s Biotechnology Business.
  **Airepel® is Arkion®'s Bird Control Business.
***N-Sure® is Arkion®'s mold retardant for animal feed.