Scientists from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, one of the world’s leading marine science research institutions, played a leading role in the founding of Mera Pharmaceuticals. The Company’s Board of Directors and its management team bring together senior executive experience in organization, operations, marketing and finance with a proven record of building successful companies from the startup stage to well over $100 million in annual revenues.
Gregory F. Kowal, Chief Executive Officer of Mera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and the Consumer Products Division
Gregory Kowal has served as Chairman of The Board since 2004 and Chief Executive Officer since 2006. Prior to 2004 he had been an outside director since 2002. He co-founded First Honolulu Securities, Inc. in 1979 and remains a principal in that firm. He is currently Chairman of the Board and Portfolio Manager of First Honolulu Asset Management. Mr. Kowal is on the steering committee overseeing the sale and liquidation of MOA Hospitality, a hotel/motel chain with locations throughout the United States. He has also served on various other supervisory court appointed groups, working with and overseeing the sale of companies during reorganization, including the sale of Wickes Lumber, a billion dollar company that was sold in 2004. Mr. Kowal received his degree from Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL in 1972 with a degree in management and finance.
Kenneth Crowder, Chief Operating Officer of the Consumer Products Division
Mr. Crowder was elected to the Board of Directors of Mera Pharmaceuticals , Inc. in September 2003. He is the President and CEO of Concordia Finance, a corporation which he founded in 1994. Mr. Crowder is a founding shareholder and member of the advisory board to the President,of Chino Commercial Bank, which opened in 2000. Mr. Crowder worked for 35 years as a scientist and engineer in the aerospace industry. He retired from Northrop Grumman in 1993. He received a B.A. from the University of California, Riverside in 1960 and an M.A. from California State University, Long Beach, in 1966.
Melanie Kelekolio, Vice President And General Manager Of The Operations And Production Facility
Melanie Kelekolio joined the company in May 1999 as a Research Associate, and later became the Team Leader of Production in 2001. Ms. Kelekolio served as Research Manager from 2006, and was appointed General Manager of Operations in January 2008. She is instrumental in the optimization of our cultivation and scale-up processes used to produce the Haematococcus pluvialis micro algae, astaxanthin, and AstaFactor products, as well as Research and Development projects now in progress. Ms. Kelekolio has over 15 years of experience in the aquaculture field.
Michael F. Corcoran, PhD, President/Director of Sales & Marketing
Dr. Corcoran joined the company’s Board of Directors in July, 2008. He founded Gull Rock Services in 1989, which provides consulting and fundraising services to non-profits. In 2002, he founded National Data Solutions, LLC, a mailing list management company. Dr. Corcoran served as CEO of a large non-profit conservation organization from 1984 to 1993. He received his PhD in Zoology from Duke University in 1981. He also studied oceanography at the University of Hawaii.
Russell M. Yamamoto, Director of Site Development and Planning
Russell Yamamoto joined the Board of Directors in July 2008. Mr. Yamamoto is President and CEO of RMY Construction, Incc., which he founded in 1984. He has worked on various municipal projects that range from athletic fields to major sewer and waterline restoration projects throughout the state of Hawaii. Mr. Yamamoto is also involved in numerous charitable organizations, which include Charities of Hawaii, American Heart Association, Palama Settlement, American Diabetes Association, Cancer Research Center of Hawaii, the University of Hawaii Foundation and HHSAA. He is a 1973 graduate from the University of Hawaii with a B.A degree in Business Administration.