Nephron Announces Hiring of Key Executives

WEST COLUMBIA, S.C., Oct. 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation today announced the new hiring of six key executives.

• Laura Friendly, Chief Accounting Officer
• Lori Aleshin, Head of Quality, Nephron 503B Outsourcing Facility
• Scott Bobbitt, Site Head of Quality, Nephron Pharmaceuticals
• Mike Kimple, Vice President of Operational Excellence
• Eric Cochran, Senior Director of Quality Operations
• David O'Connell, Quality Operations Clean Room Senior Manager

"The industry knowledge and experience among this group is unmatched," said Nephron CEO and Owner Lou Kennedy. "We could not be prouder that a group of this caliber is as excited as we are about the future of Nephron. They are committed to delivering life-saving medications to patients, and we are confident they are equipped with all the tools needed to build on our momentum and keep Nephron growing."

Laura Friendly, Chief Accounting Officer
Laura Friendly is a certified public accountant with over 20 years of financial and strategic analysis experience. Before joining the Nephron team, Friendly was the Vice President of Finance at MPZ Holdings, LLC, where she led the accounting department responsible for the financial operation of over 40 Marco's Pizza locations. She has served as Chief Financial Officer at AVANTech, LLC and the Engineering Design & Testing Corp. Friendly received her Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of South Carolina.

Lori Aleshin, Head of Quality, 503B Outsourcing Facility
Lori Aleshin has proven success in developing quality standards, policies, and procedures across pharmaceutical and medical device industries. Before her role as Head of Quality for Nephron 503B Outsourcing Facility, Aleshin worked as Director of Quality for Athenex Inc. Pharmaceuticals, where she directly managed senior quality managers, engineers and oversaw 30 indirect quality control and microbiology laboratories, as well as all quality assurance employees. She has served in director-level roles at Ivoclar Vivadent Inc., where she successfully obtained Medical Device Single Audit Program Certification on her first application, and Safetec of America Inc. Aleshin earned her Master of Public Administration in healthcare management from Keller Graduate School of Management, her Master of Business Administration in Finance from Keller Graduate School of Management and her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Southern Arkansas University.

Scott Bobbitt, Site Head of Quality, Nephron Pharmaceuticals
Scott Bobbitt brings to Nephron a comprehensive background in quality assurance management in the areas of R&D and commercialization for the pharmaceutical industry. Before joining the Nephron team, Bobbitt served as vice president of quality for Adicet Bio Inc., where he was responsible for assuring the quality and compliance of cell, gene and CAR-T manufacturing, testing and distribution practices. Throughout his 30-year career, he has held key roles in quality assurance at organizations including Hitachi Chemicals Advanced Therapeutics Solutions, Dermira, Inc. and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. Bobbitt earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from North Carolina Wesleyan College and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Quality Assurance at Southern Polytechnic State University.

Mike Kimple, Vice President of Operational Excellence
During his nearly 30-year career, Mike Kimple has been responsible for the development, construction, operation and maintenance of the major multinational personal protective equipment (PPE) corporation, The Showa Group. As Americas Director of Manufacturing, he supervised the efforts of more than 700 employees for the operation, maintenance and expansion of three ISO-certified facilities. He held multiple management roles at the PPE manufacturer, where he oversaw the architectural design of its research and development center. Kimple received his Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Vanderbilt University.

Eric Cochran, Senior Director of Quality Operations
Eric Cochran joins Nephron with 25 years of manufacturing and quality assurance experience in biopharmaceutical and medical device environments producing sterile and non-sterile products. In his previous role as Senior Director of Manufacturing Quality Assurance at Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, he led a team of 14 responsible for all aspects of quality assurance and acted as an in-process quality assurance expert for the microbiology and chemistry laboratory activities, including all current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP). Cochran earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Iowa State University.

David O'Connell, Quality Operations Clean Room Senior Manager
David O'Connell is a microbiology professional who has successfully recruited, managed, and led comprehensive environmental monitoring training for production personnel on aseptic techniques, behaviors, set-up, and equipment operation. Before joining the Nephron team, he served as a consultant for Pfizer at its McPherson, Kansas location, where he used MODA systems to improve the efficiency of daily operations. O'Connell has used his MODA expertise to train employees and implement its workflows at Charles River Laboratories and PCT Cell Therapy Services, developing teams with quality control best practices. O'Connell received his Associate Degree in Criminal Justice from Union College.

A West Columbia, S.C.-based company, Nephron develops and produces safe, affordable generic inhalation solutions and suspension products. The company also operates an industry-leading 503B Outsourcing Facility division which produces pre-filled sterile syringes, luer-lock vials, IV bottles and IV bags for hospitals across America, in an effort to alleviate drug shortage needs. For more information, please visit www.nephronpharm.com.

CONTACT: Connor Watkins, cwatkins@nephronpharm.com

SOURCE Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation