Alkemists Adds To Executive Leadership Team

Online, January 26, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Alkemists Labs, a leading provider of contract research, ingredient identity testing and compendia analysis services to the natural products industry, is pleased to announce that Kelly Reins has joined the company as Executive Director of Laboratory Operations & Compliance to lead the overall strategic growth of its analytical services division.

Ms. Reins brings a highly qualified and diverse background of over 25 years experience to the position, having either directly managed or built top-tier performing analytical labs for some of the leading Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical manufacturers in the world such as Robinson Pharmaceuticals, Watson Pharmaceuticals, Soft Gel Technologies and Baxter Bioscience. Reins will head future planning, implementation and management of lab operations for the upcoming expansion to ensure cGMP compliance and well as meet specific target growth objectives as the company develops new service offerings and research products.

"After a year of record sales growth and profitability, we are taking critical steps to ensure this trend continues" said Elan Sudberg, Alkemists - CEO. "We plotted a course to enhance our labs' higher-end analytical capabilities and cGMP compliance as well as specialize in offering more resources to companies needing analytical support for botanical drug development and routine/quality control testing for over-the-counter (OTC) products, no longer just dietary supplements, beverages or food ingredients. In order to achieve these aggressive plans in the coming year, we needed a seasoned expert who's led in both environments and Kelly is that individual."

"Alkemists is an industry icon with an overwhelmingly positive reputation, though largely has remained a specialty boutique testing lab, until recent times" said Reins. "With the final cGMP regulations in place, their customer base and market potential have grown substantially. As a former client of Alkemists, it was critical for me to connect with the lab and people therein, and by now helping build up the right resources from this perspective, it will be a win-win for Alkemists and their customers. It is simply a great fit."

Kelly Reins was previously QC Director at Robinson Pharma from 2009 to 2010, Manager of Analytical R&D at Watson Pharmaceuticals from 2006 to 2009 and QC Manager at Soft Gel Technologies from 2002 to 2006. Prior to that, Reins spent over 15 years in various manager or senior level lab positions in the areas of quality control and/or quality assurance at Baxter Bioscience, Alpha Therapeutic (now Grifols), Merle Norman Cosmetics, Gilead and Estee Lauder Companies. She holds B.Sc. in Chemistry from USC and has served on several Expert Review Panels for AOAC as well as the Presidential Task Force on Dietary Supplements for AOAC.

For further information on Alkemists Labs contract testing services please contact us at (714) 754-4372 or [email protected]. For an updated glance at the various services and offerings from Alkemists Labs, visit www.alkemist.com.

About Company
Alkemists Labs is a contract testing laboratory specializing in Contract Research & Routine QC Analysis for Natural Products, Dietary Supplements, Cosmetics and Foods & Beverages. Located in Costa Mesa, CA Alkemists offers clients a wide range of specialty research and compendia testing services encompassing USP/NF, AOAC, BP, JP, EP, PPRC and IP to evaluate the safety, purity and quality of natural products and ingredients.