AlloSource EVP Kevin Cmunt Selected as Next President-Elect of American Association of Tissue Banks

CENTENNIAL, Colo., Sept. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- AlloSource, a leading developer, processor and distributor of bone and soft-tissue allografts for use in surgical procedures around the world, today announced that Executive Vice President Kevin Cmunt has been selected as the next President-Elect of the nonprofit American Association of Tissue Banks, (AATB), the definitive source on safety and standards in the tissue banking industry. Cmunt will assume his role of President-Elect at the organization's annual meeting in Scottsdale in September.

"We are incredibly proud of Kevin's election; he represents the best of our industry with a deep respect for the gift of life from tissue donors and a passion for finding new, safe possibilities for tissue transplantation in the future," said Thomas Cycyota, AlloSource President and CEO.  "Speaking from the perspective of an AATB-accredited tissue bank, the organization's existence is crucial to saving and improving the lives of tissue recipients and making tissue transplants safer for patients in need."

The AATB is a professional, non-profit, scientific and educational organization and the only national tissue banking organization in the United States. Its membership totals more than 100 accredited tissue banks and 1,000 individual members.  These banks recover tissue from more than 30,000 donors and distribute in excess of two million allografts for more than one million tissue transplants performed annually in the U.S.  The overwhelming majority of the human tissue distributed for these transplants comes from AATB-accredited tissue banks.

"I look forward to serving the AATB during an exciting time, as many new possibilities in regenerative medicine using tissue allografts are becoming available. We also must remain steadfast in our commitment to honoring donors and their families, because without their generous gifts none of this exciting work would be possible," said Cmunt.  "My full-time work with the nonprofit tissue bank AlloSource has prepared me perfectly for my new role, as our organization is also unwavering in this mission to honor the gift of life."

This AATB election was the first in the association's history to use electronic voting.  It resulted in a record turnout with more than two-thirds of the current members voting, an increase of more than 230 votes from the last Board election.  

"Kevin is a fantastic fit for the role of AATB President due to his tenure in the tissue banking industry and his unwavering commitment to safety standards and honoring the donor," said P. Robert Rigney, Jr., Esq., Chief Executive Officer of the AATB.  "We are confident that his expertise and passion will help to guide the organization into its next chapter."

About AlloSource

AlloSource is a non-profit company that offers more than 200 precise bone, skin, soft-tissue and custom-machined allografts for use in an array of life-saving and life-enhancing medical procedures.  As the world's leader in fresh cartilage tissue used for joint repair and skin allografts to heal severe burns, AlloSource has grown into one of the largest tissue networks in the country with more than 350 employees.  It is the world's largest processor of live cellular bone growth substitutes and delivers unparalleled expertise and customer service to its growing network of surgeons, partners and the country's most reputable organ procurement organizations.  As one of the leading innovators in maximizing tissue donation with the goal of offering optimal solutions for healthcare providers and their patients, AlloSource is recognized by the medical community for its ability to process and provide high quality tissue.  The company is accredited by the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) and is headquartered in Centennial, CO. For more information, please visit our corporate website or educational website.

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Thomas Cycyota

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SOURCE AlloSource