Dee Conger
Chief Executive Officer
Dee Conger founded Innovive, Inc. in 2004 to radically transform the economics and convenience of conducting laboratory research. Before Innovive, he served as CEO of Ansata Therapeutics, a large molecule discovery operation focused on broad-spectrum antimicrobial compounds. Before Ansata, Dee served as Vice President, Strategic Operations at Vertex Pharmaceuticals. He was responsible for all discovery operations, including Compound Management, Cell Core, Quality Assurance, and HTS/UHTS screening at their San Diego site. Dee also worked as a consultant with the Boston Consulting Group. He received an MBA and a Master's of industrial engineering from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management and McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science at Northwestern University with the highest honors. Dee also served as a combat fighter pilot and instructor pilot in the NATO fighter pilot school in the United States Air Force. He is the first inventor of more than 40 US and international patents and holds many US and international trademarks. In his spare time, Dee continues to restore and fly various aircraft and is FAA-type rated in the A-4, F-5, F-4, T-37, T-38, S211, Fouga Magistre, and different Learjet models.
Todd Knapp
Chief Financial Officer
Todd Knapp joined Innovive in May 2022 as the Chief Financial Officer. He oversees Finance, Accounting, and Human Resources departments. Todd came to Innovive after a successful 4-year tenure at Explora Biolabs, culminating in Explora's acquisition by Charles River Laboratories. Before Explora Biolabs, he spent 17 years in the software and mobile technology spaces, providing key financial leadership and guidance to high-growth small- to medium-sized private and public companies. Todd is a California-licensed CPA. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business with an emphasis in accounting from the University of Georgia.
Emmanuel Ferton
Senior Vice President of Operations
Emmanuel Ferton joined Innovive in 2017 as Senior Vice President of Operations and leads operations teams of various manufacturing and distribution sites for Innovive. Before joining Innovive, he worked in operations and supply-chain executive roles in the semiconductor, electronics, and consulting industries. Emmanuel brings a robust international experience after long-term assignments in France, Germany, and Singapore. Emmanuel holds an engineering degree in materials science from Ecole Centrale de Lyon in France and a master's degree in business from EM Lyon in France.
Brandy Wilkinson, PhD
Vice President, Scientific Solutions
Brandy Wilkinson has more than 15 years of experience directing large-scale contract vivarium and research operations. Most recently, she led the team as Vice President of Operations and Research at Explora Biolabs (now Charles River), growing from 7 to 19 facilities in four years. Her responsibilities included management and regulatory oversight of 19 AAALAC-accredited vivaria and more than 50 client-owned vivaria across four bio hub cities. In addition, Brandy oversaw preclinical Contract Research Operations at Explora, Covance (LabCorp Drug Development), Champions Oncology, and the Jackson Laboratory. Brandy received her Ph.D. in neuroscience from Florida State University.
Sarah Anderson-Jenkins
Vice President of Sales
Sarah Anderson-Jenkins is the Vice President of Sales and has spent the past 16 years in the Biotechnology, Medical Device, and CRO industries. Sarah has acquired extensive experience managing sales, distribution, and marketing teams across the globe in manufacturing and service segments. Her expertise includes market growth and expansion, strategic alliances, and product launches. Sarah received her Bachelor of Science in medical laboratory science from the University of New Hampshire.
Francesca McGuffie
Director of Engineering
Francesca McGuffie has been with Innovive for 17 action-packed years, joining as the third employee in early 2006. She is the Director of Engineering, leading the Product Development, Automation Engineering, and Maintenance teams across all Innovive sites. Being with the company since the beginning, she has had the unique experience of having a hand in conceptualizing, designing, and testing every product that Innovive has ever produced. Francesca holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Northeastern University and a master's degree in medical device engineering from the University of California San Diego.
Ann Mason, RLATg
Director of Vivarium Solutions
Ann Mason has more than 17 years of experience directing large and small-scale vivarium facilities and operations. Most recently, she served as Regional Manager for Onsite Services at Explora BioLabs (now Charles River). Her responsibilities included managing more than 25 unique client vivaria in and around the greater Boston area. Additionally, Ann has served in leadership roles at Novalex, Charles River, Genzyme, and Sanofi.