Tim Fritzsching
Founder, Managing Partner

Mr. Fritzsching brings more than 20+ years of experience working in Information Technology, Systems Engineering, Clinical Research and Clinical Governance disciplines. He previously held a leadership role at one of the largest CROs (Clinical Research Organizations) based in Europe where he led the efforts to create a fully compliant NIST 800-171, 53 network and received accreditation from the DIB ISAC (Defense Industrial Base Information Sharing Analysis Center). He has held other roles in the aerospace, K-12 education and university research circles. More recently he completed a research assignment at Oakland University for SIBHI (Summer Institute in Bio Engineering and Health Informatics) on a National Institutes of Health grant. Mr. Fritzsching maintains extensive regulatory audit expertise involving FedRAMP, NIST, FIPS, HIPAA and GDPR mandates and has managed complex IT partnership agreements under FOCI (Foreign Ownership, Control or Influence) governance restrictions.

During the Ebola outbreak, he worked with a first to respond CRO to get mobile blood lab capabilities on the ground in Africa. That enabled a critical working path for blood sample collection and RT-PCR (Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) testing in hot zones throughout the region. In partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, he facilitated the delivery of technical communication capabilities in difficult to operate locations such as Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Mr. Fritzsching serves on several independent boards and has a passion for leading others. He is skilled with assisting companies in navigating their compliance, technical and governance challenges. He enjoys helping organizations achieve goals that bolster their opportunity for success.

Stephen Starr
President, Managing Partner

Mr. Starr brings 30+ years of experience in Clinical Research and Product Development. He began his clinical research career at Duke University. During his tenure at Duke University he steadily progressed into a thought leadership role and contributed significantly to several key departmental initiatives. These initiatives led to a healthy work culture which contributed to sustained growth and stability.

His career has spanned three primary spaces encompassing Academic, Pharma and CRO (Clinical Research Organizations). He is not only looked to as a leader but “leader of leaders” and has a proven track record of tangible results to support. He has served as a contributor and author of abstracts and journals within Cardiovascular Medicine. As a result, he was elected to be the chairperson for a session at the annual SCDM Conference in Chicago 2013 where he presented the key aspects of Project Management and demonstrated the importance of good project management skills for a successful project outcome.

He has supervised, trained, and mentored large (150+) and small (5-10) teams across all divisions within various organizations. His work philosophy is firmly based on the following: 1) Work Hard, 2) Move with Integrity, and 3) Be a pleasure to be around. Stephen enjoys mentoring young professionals, swimming, nature walks, and football.

Annastasiah Mudiwa Mhaka, Ph.D

Dr. Mhaka is an experienced life sciences and digital health executive, investment professional, and biotech entrepreneur with a passion for global health. Leveraging expertise in biomedical discovery, technology development, healthcare delivery, and fundraising she creates transformative healthcare advances impactful on a global scale.

Utilizing her experience in emerging technologies and cross-disciplinary/multi-stakeholder approaches, Dr. Mhaka co-founded the Alliance for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare (AAIH), a global coalition of 30+ organizations dedicated to resolving the myriad challenges facing the growing field of AI and Machine Learning-based life sciences and healthcare solutions. In addition to her proven track record of over 50+ cross-industry deals in both the private and public sector, Dr. Mhaka has worked for a leading management consultant firm, a global clinical research organization, and co-founded five companies within the drug development and nanotechnology sectors ($70M+ Series A). This includes a mid-stage AI-supported nanotechnology platform for diagnosis, disease management, therapeutic monitoring, data processing & transmission at the point-of-need.

She holds several advisory roles in academia and industry, and serves on the boards of the Belgian-American Chamber of Commerce (BelCham), which promotes transatlantic business growth and collaboration, and the Academic Drug Discovery Consortium (ADCC), comprised of 150+ universities advancing drug discovery through innovation, translation and strategic partnering. Dr. Mhaka received her PhD in Cellular and Molecular Medicine from Johns Hopkins Medicine where she developed a clinical phase oncology drug and attained her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (Highest Honors, Summa Cum Laude) from the University of Pittsburgh.
See more here https://mawambo.com/

James Ronald Hass, Ph.D

Dr. Hass received his education within North Carolina, earning a bachelors degree in Chemistry from Appalachian State University in 1967 and a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from UNC-CH in 1972. He completed his formal career preparation with a post-doctoral research appointment at the University of Warwick in Coventry where he studied with Professor K. R. Jennings and Professor J. H. Beynon, FRS, OBE.

There are three threads to Dr. Hass’s career. He started down an academic thread in the Department of Chemistry at NCSU but soon veered off into government service at the NIEHS where he spent 10 years and developed an internationally recognized research program based on mass spectrometry. During this period, he renewed his academic interest with an adjunct appointment in the School of Public Health at UNC in which he was active for 27 years, “retiring” in 2004 as Adjunct Professor of Environmental Sciences. After 10 years in government service, he was presented with a rare opportunity to start a business based on his reputation as an Analytical Chemist with environment expertise. In 1984, Triangle Laboratories, Inc. was hatched. The company doubled in sales volume each of its first five years and was profitable from year 2.

His accomplishments include participating in more than 120 publications in peer reviewed scientific journals, invited lectures in 18 foreign cities along with numerous presentations at national meetings in the US, co-organizing a number of international conferences, a Distinguished Alumnus Award from ASU, and serving on various boards including the Advancement Council for the College of Arts and Sciences at ASU, the NC Math Sciences Education Network Advisory Board, Research Triangle World Trade Center Board of Directors, the UNC School of Education Foundation Board of Directors, the NCCU Biomedical, Biotechnology Research Institute Board of Directors, the Asilimor Conference on Mass Spectrometry Board of Directors, and the Triangle Laboratories, Inc. Board of Directors.

Dr. Hass is currently serving on the Roxboro Christian Academy Board of Directors. Ron is an active member of Westwood Baptist Church in Roxboro where he serves as a photographer and supports the Westwood Community Garden.

Earl Gurtner

Mr. Gurtner is a former sales executive and business owner that spent the majority of his career in the food industry where he developed new ways of marketing today's standard foods.

He held the role of marketing V.P. for Kings Hawaiian Bread where he Increased sales within 3 years from $900K to over $10M. The growth that resulted from expanding sales launched the company from one city to nationwide and necessitated the construction of an East Coast plant.

Among other roles, Mr. Gurtner bought into a food brokerage businesses in Roanoke Virginia and held the national sales record at Sara Lee. He also worked at Miroil Inc. to sell a food oil additive that improves quality of fried foods. It was at Miroil where he was instrumental in selling several major food companies that used the additive. Additionally, he held a position with Orange Julius to establish a distribution network and reinvent new food items for their 400 snack shops. He was responsible for overseeing the remodel of all their stores within a 2 year period.

Mr. Gurtner also worked for a frozen food buyer at one of the largest food service distributors in U.S. He was the main buyer for 33 service branches located in North America, and established the first redistribution warehouse for frozen foods to streamline operations. His involvement was essential to ensure quality assurance standards were met on all items shipped.

Mr. Gurtner is now retired. He invested in his lifelong dream of owning a golf course and teaching high school golf. Over the years he has had 2 of his students go on to play collegiate level golf and hundreds of golfers enjoy the game at his course.