Our Leadership
Our leaders drive success
Dynamic leadership helps guide our mission at Rho—to improve health, extend life, and enhance quality of life through corporate and research excellence. Our Board of Directors sets a clear vision for the future, and our senior leaders make that vision a reality by setting goals and motivating the workforce to reach them. Together, our leaders guide a global organization of more than 500 people striving to make Rho’s vision a reality.
Company Leadership
Laura Helms Reece, Dr. PH.
Chief Executive Officer
Recognized as a “Top Businesswoman” by the Triangle Business Journal and a graduate of Harvard Business School’s prestigious Owner/President Management Program, Dr. Laura Helms Reece has been Rho’s CEO since 2011. After cutting her teeth in clinical research as a Data Processor at Rho in 1991, Dr. Helms Reece spent…
Tara Gladwell, M.B.A.
Chief Operating Officer
As Rho’s Chief Operating Officer, Tara Gladwell combines her passion for clinical research and uncompromising drive for excellence to foster a corporate culture that attracts and retains the best talent in the industry. During her almost 20 years at Rho, she has quite literally done it all. From leading full-service…
Jack Modell, M.D.
Chief Medical Officer
A board-certified psychiatrist with over 40 years of experience in clinical research, Dr. Jack Modell has spent a considerable amount of time within both the academia and pharmaceutical/CRO sides of the industry. Pairing his 20 years of teaching, providing patient care, and conducting clinical research with 21 years of clinical…
J. Marc Pipas, M.D.
Senior Medical Director
Dr. Pipas has extensive clinical, research, and leadership expertise built on a long and successful career in clinical oncology at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center/Norris Cotton Cancer Center, an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center. During his academic career, Dr Pipas led the GI Clinical Oncology Group for >10 years, served as Hematology/Oncology Fellowship…
Kevin Barber, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President, Regulatory Strategy & Submissions
Kevin Barber, PhD, RAC, PMP, serves as Rho’s Senior Vice President of Regulatory Strategy & Submissions, providing extensive strategic leadership, scientific knowledge, and regulatory expertise to support Rho’s clientele in the development and execution of integrated regulatory strategies and clinical development plans for drugs, biologics, and medical devices. Dr. Barber…
Matt Healy
Senior Vice President, Global Clinical Operations
Matt Healy has over 25 years of clinical research experience, spanning both academia and the CRO industry. For the last 17 years, Mr. Healy has been focused on supporting the development and management of clinical operations across a variety of global clinical programs within the CRO Industry. He has extensive…
Peter Schmidt, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President, Government Partnerships
As Senior Vice President, Government Partnerships, Dr. Schmidt provides strategic and scientific leadership to Rho’s Federal Systems Division, helping to build on the Rho’s long history of pioneering research in the federal arena. As a neuroscientist, Dr. Schmidt brings a wealth of experience in biomedical research having contributed as an…
Rob Woolson
Senior Vice President, Regulatory Strategy, Biometrics & Technology
Rob Woolson serves as Rho’s Senior Vice President of Regulatory Strategy, Biometrics, & Technology. Mr. Woolson joined Rho in 2007 and has 20 years’ experience as an applied statistician. He has an extensive background working with small biotech and pharmaceutical companies to successfully bridge and navigate the biometrics, CDISC data…
Jamie Hahn
Vice President, Global Quality Assurance
Jamie Hahn serves as Rho’s Vice President, Global Quality Assurance with responsibility for strategic leadership of the Quality Assurance team and oversight of Rho’s global Quality Management System. Ms. Hahn has been with Rho for 17 years and has a breadth of experience across the clinical drug development process, including…
Kay Lowery
Vice President, Global Human Resources & Legal
Kay Lowery is a nationally certified Human Resources professional and currently serves as Rho’s Vice President, Global Human Resources & Legal, providing strategic and tactical HR guidance to leaders and employees. Ms. Lowery has over 20 years of experience in a multitude of industries, including professional sports and entertainment, publication,…
Dave Shortino, M.B.A.
Vice President, Corporate Services
As the VP of Corporate Services, Dave Shortino provides a breadth of business expertise and guidance to Rho. His keen business sense, innovative thinking, and dedication to Rho make him an important asset to Rho’s leadership. Mr. Shortino received his MBA from Elon College, and with over 20 years of…
Shann Williams
Vice President, Business Operations
Shann Williams oversees global cross-functional business operations processes and solutions. In this role, she leads corporate transformational change initiatives, ensuring Rho stays agile to meet our evolving public health and client needs. She is also the director of the NIAID-DAIT Statistical and Clinical Coordinating Center at Rho. In this role,…
Phil Holmes, Ed.D.
Associate Vice President, Organizational Development & Corporate Culture
Philip Holmes, EdD, serves as Rho’s Associate Vice President, Organizational Development & Corporate Culture. In this role, Dr. Holmes provides corporate leadership and oversight for employee development, learning and performance, corporate communications, and change management. Prior to joining Rho, he spent 18 years in the public schools systems of New…