PRO-GENEX - Key Persons
Blake is proficient in team organization, project management, and strategic development. He spent his time at North Point Ministries before joining the Pro-GeneX team in 2018.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership and Team
- President and CEO - ProGeneX Laboratories INC
Brett Grauss is a widely-recognized healthcare executive with over 30 years of experience in medical technology, medical devices, and pharmacology. In his role as CEO of Pro-GeneX Laboratories, he leads a team of dedicated professionals who solve problems by delivering rapid molecular laboratory results for best-in-market patient care and client satisfaction. Brett has held executive-level positions within Baxter Healthcare, Sorin Biomedica, and AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation. Brett was also the co-founder and COO at MedCenterDirect and the SVP of Business Development at MED Select™ where he successfully led both enterprises from startup through maturity. Brett received his BS in Industrial Engineering from San Jose State where he was a four-year scholar-athlete (football), and his MBA from Pepperdine University. Brett is also certified by Penn State University in Health Systems Leadership.
Candice is responsible for managing the complexities of finance including Medicare Part B/Medicaid, AR/AP (reimbursements/refunds), appeals, chart auditing, coding, and provider enrollment. Her 15+ plus years of experience are especially important when adapting to moving targets such as Government guidelines. With guideline revisions, they foster Candice's collaboration skills with healthcare professionals such as physicians, pharmacists, and directors of nursing. She admits "my work is challenging and exciting work every single day. My efforts make a real difference".
Candice enjoys spending quality time with her family, reading, watching movies, and going to the beach.
Job Titles:
- Leader
- Executive V.P. of Government Affairs
Chad is a servant leader committed to professional stewardship and committed to his lifelong dedication to helping others. He has over 40 years in Fire/EMS and 17 years in Air Medical.
Chad has served on multiple local, regional, and state committees. He has Chaired the Region 2 Regional Trauma Advisory Committee from inception. He contributed to a trauma system that includes 13 counties and worked with Northeast Georgia Medical Center to become the region's first Trauma Center with Level 2 capabilities. He continues today to serve as Chairman of the Georgia Emergency Medical Services Association. Chad was appointed to the Georgia Firefighters Standards and Training Council by Lieutenant Governor Jeff Duncan.
Chad is an active catalyst in numerous public safety programs at the state, region, and local levels and heads or serves several task forces, pilot projects, and public safety conferences.
If you've ever met Chad in public, you'll notice immediately that he has never met a stranger and is a friend to many. His community involvement includes organizations such as board members for North Georgia Community Foundation and Vice-Chairman for Interactive Neighborhood for Kids.
Job Titles:
- Scientist
- CSO and Director of Laboratory Services
Chris, a dedicated scientist, graduated with a degree in Cytogenetics from The University of Connecticut. He is a career medical laboratorian with extensive clinical experience in cancer diagnostics using various Cytogenetic, FISH, and molecular techniques. He is an experienced manager with laboratory operations and integration. Devoted husband of 20 years and father of two wonderful children, Chris is an avid outdoorsman. He enjoys boating, fishing, camping, and all things woods and water-related. Chris is also an active supporter of the Boy Scouts Of America and an animal lover and sports fan.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Laboratory Director
Greg is an accomplished interdisciplinary researcher and educator with nearly 25 years of experience in both academic and semi-industrial settings in a broad array of biological disciplines. He was an NIH-sponsored researcher responsible for the development of novel and efficacious therapies for type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune diseases, and he is a published author in the fields of stem cell biology, neuroscience, immunology, and biomaterials. Greg brings extensive experience in assay development, oversight of technical support staff, and mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students to our community. As a higher-education educator, he has primarily focused on the fields of anatomy & physiology, gross anatomy, stem cell biology, and genetics.
Job Titles:
- Director of Financial Operations
Joy has extensive management experience and possesses in-depth knowledge in finance, operations, team building, and process & change management. She is a dedicated champion of improvement and has proven successful in aligning business and financial operations. Grounded with a pragmatic mindset, one would easily observe her inclusive leadership and roll-up-your-sleeves work ethic. Joy is naturally curious with a versatility that's important for organizations that are thriving such as Pro-GeneX.
Kathleen has always wanted to improve the lives of others and found the ideal means of accomplishing that goal in retail pharmacy. As an owner of an independent pharmacy, she has served the people of rural North Central Florida for nearly 17 years, providing personalized, compassionate care to each and every patient and customer that has walked into her store. Her attention to detail, professional demeanor, extensive pharmacological knowledge, and genuine bedside-manner translate perfectly to her role as a pharmacogenomic consultant with Pro-GeneX. Dr. Marshall earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2002 from the University of Florida's College of Pharmacy. She is certified in vaccine administration and as a pharmacogenomic consultant. She lives in Buford, Georgia with her husband and daughter and two goofy, yet adorable, dogs.
Job Titles:
- Facility Clinical Operations Coordinator / Communications Director
Pennye is a veteran medical professional with experience spanning more than 25 years in many aspects of the healthcare continuum. As a proponent to solve problems as an entrepreneur including healthcare, Pennye easily relates to patients and clinicians going into action to deliver best-in-market patient care and client satisfaction.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Founder
- Member of the Leadership and Team
Robert founded Pro-GeneX, LLC., a private company based at the Georgia Tech Advanced Technology Development Center in Atlanta, GA in 2014.
A serial entrepreneur, he served as Chief Operating Officer for Sensiotec, Inc., a Georgia Tech-based medical device firm for several years. He was responsible for managing all research, implementation, deployment, and training services for beta sites, clinical trials, and managing day-to-day operations.
He served as Founder and Chief Executive Officer / Director of Operations for Wings Air, a 75-employee, regional commuter airline that operated ten aircraft in five states, provided scheduled service into Hartsfield Jackson International Airport and conducted over 125 daily operations seven days a week. He was responsible for initiating gate operations at Hartsfield Jackson Airport, successfully negotiating changes in the airport security plan and establishing a new record for regulatory approval and airline conversion in the commuter industry, achieving commuter airline status with the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation in less than 100 days.
Robert is an active participant in entrepreneurship programs at the University of North Georgia in Dahlonega and an invitee for regional Small Business Administration roundtables.
He has served on the board of directors for a number of non-profit agencies including One World Adoption Services, a non-profit focused on the needs of children in developing nations. Currently, Robert serves on the Board of Directors for Aurora Day Camp, a non-profit day camp for children and their siblings with cancer.
Job Titles:
- Director of Clinical Operations
Sophelia started with Pro-GeneX in 2020 during the height of COVID and applied her extensive experience in client services. Her skills were put to use quickly!
Sophelia's key responsibilities are dedicated to Client Services throughout Pro-GeneX for healthcare and employer organizations. Although her Master's in healthcare administration is important, she is also committed to being a full-time mother to her three boys.
Her free time is spent feeding her obsession with beach therapy and taking the children to their various daily activities.
Job Titles:
- Medical Director
- Founder of Keating Family Medicine
Dr. William Keating is the founder of Keating Family Medicine and he is board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and the American Academy of Family Physicians. He graduated with a medical degree from Georgetown University. He completed his residency at a naval base in Jacksonville, Florida and managed a large medical facility in South Korea.