Biolyst Leadership Team

Chief Executive Officer

Jay Hexamer joined Biolyst Scientific as Chief Executive Officer in March 2025. With over 30 years of experience in the scientific, healthcare, and life sciences industries, Jay brings a wealth of knowledge in strategic leadership and operational excellence. Prior to joining Biolyst, he served as President, CEO, and Senior Advisor at Caron Scientific, where he led global operations across the U.S. and U.K., strengthening sales and marketing initiatives, driving product innovation, and expanding global distribution networks.

His tenure at Avantor (VWR International) further solidified his reputation as an industry leader, overseeing businesses and implementing aggressive sales and marketing initiatives that significantly expanded market share. Jay holds an MBA from Butler University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.

Chief Technology Officer

Reza Ardekani is Chief Technology Officer of Biolyst Scientific. As Chief Technological Officer, he spearheads the creation of new products, shapes the company’s technology roadmap, and ensures that Biolyst Scientific remains at the cutting edge of solving customer needs. Reza assumed the role upon the successful sale of Azer Scientific, a company he built into a prominent laboratory consumables player as the Founder and CEO.

Reza brings extensive experience in leading national business development strategies, developing intellectual property, managing multi-channel commercial teams, and overseeing operations and distribution.  He has been instrumental in founding, financing, and developing numerous businesses, guiding them from initial concepts to successful enterprises. Reza holds a bachelor’s degree in Cell Biology and Cytotechnology from Thomas Jefferson University.

“I am committed to driving unparalleled customer value by championing innovation through the power of collaboration and an unwavering focus on customer feedback.”

Chief Operating Officer

John joined Biolyst Scientific as Chief Operating Officer in March 2024.  In this capacity, John leads the Manufacturing Operations, Supply Chain, and Quality functions and is responsible for instilling a culture of operational excellence to reliably and efficiently meet customer needs.

John brings over 25 years of experience in Operations, with leadership roles spanning Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Logistics and Distribution, and Engineering. Most recently, he served as Chief Operating Officer for G&H Photonics, where he gained extensive experience in business integration post-acquisition. Prior to his tenure at G&H Photonics, John held key operational leadership positions at Thermo Fisher Scientific, Corning, and Novanta. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University and has earned several Six Sigma and Lean certifications.

“My dedication to operational excellence is relentless, fostering a culture where quality comes first. I am driven to implement sustainable practices that ensure flawless execution, delivering the highest standards for our customers.”

Chief Financial Officer

Bill Sommers was appointed Chief Financial Officer of Biolyst Scientific in April 2024. As CFO, he leads the Finance & IT functions in support of the execution of the company’s strategy through financial control, reporting, analysis, and business systems.

Bill has over 30 years of finance and accounting leadership experience. Recently, he served as CFO for several Private Equity-backed companies, managing financial aspects of high-return transactions, including acquisitions, recapitalizations, and integrations. Earlier in his career, Bill held key roles at Coopers & Lybrand (now PwC), ICI Plc, Danaher, and Ametek. Bill holds a bachelor’s in Accounting from the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science, an MBA from the University of Delaware, and is a CPA (inactive) in Pennsylvania.

“I am steadfast in maintaining our robust financial foundation, crucial for supporting our customer-centric strategy and delivering on our value creation promise to investors, ensuring long-term growth and stability.”

Director of Quality & Regulatory Affairs

Mariana brings over 25 years of experience in Quality, Supply Chain, and EHS Management across multiple industries, including automotive, oil & gas, mining, construction, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals. She has led strategic initiatives in ERP implementation, multi-site quality system integrations, and regulatory compliance, working with standards such as ISO 9001, IATF 16949, ISO 13485, ISO 14001, and 21 CFR 210/211 and 820.

A certified Green Belt in Six Sigma, Mariana holds an MBA in Safety Engineering and a degree in Industrial Engineering from CEFET-MG. Before joining Biolyst Scientific, she held leadership roles at FIAT Group (now Stellantis), Sandvik, Bosch, and Troxler.

Originally from Brazil, Mariana moved to the U.S. in 2012 and joined Azer Scientific in 2022. She became Director of Quality and Regulatory Affairs in 2023 and has since been focused on strengthening the quality team, ensuring regulatory compliance, and integrating Biolyst’s quality processes to enhance customer satisfaction and drive growth.

“I don’t build quality systems for myself—they are built to drive excellence, foster a strong quality mindset, and help companies achieve differentiation through robust processes.”

Senior Director of Product Management 

Ralph Finkbiner serves as Senior Director of Product Management for Biolyst Scientific, leading the strategic direction and commercialization of the company’s portfolio across clinical, research, and life science markets. He oversees global product management, marketing communications, and new product development for the Azer Scientific and Electron Microscopy Sciences (EMS) portfolios, driving initiatives that strengthen Biolyst’s brand presence and expand market share in both consumables and instrumentation.

With over 16 years of experience in the life sciences and diagnostics industry, Ralph has played a key role in integrating product and marketing strategies following the merger of Azer Scientific and EMS, positioning Biolyst for continued growth. Prior to Biolyst, he served as Product and Marketing Manager for Azer Scientific, where he led numerous product launches across histology, microbiology, and clinical consumables, building partnerships with global OEMs and distributors to expand market reach.

Ralph holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from The Pennsylvania State University.

“Leading product management and marketing at Biolyst means guiding a team that transforms a diverse portfolio into solutions that truly advance clinical and research workflows.”

Director of Strategic Accounts

Steve has 7 years of sales experience all with Azer Scientific ranging from inside sales, outside sales, and Strategic Accounts Manager. During this time, he focused on growing customer base and building relationships while delivering quality products in a timely manner.

He is responsible for managing relationships with key clients, developing sales strategies, and driving revenue growth for the organization while ensuring customer satisfaction and loyalty. 

“Committed to driving success and long-term business sustainability by aligning the company’s offerings with the evolving needs of our customer base.”

Sr. Director of Sales

Mike Lake joined Biolyst Scientific as Sr. Director of Sales in March 2025, where he leads the commercial teams for both Azer Scientific and Electron Microscopy Sciences. With nearly 20 years of experience in laboratory diagnostics, Mike brings deep industry expertise and a strong record of driving growth through strategic sales leadership.

Before joining Biolyst, Mike headed the digital pathology sales team at Leica Biosystems, managing a combined group of sales professionals and solution architects to accelerate adoption of innovative digital pathology solutions. He has also held senior commercial roles at Beckman Coulter, Toshiba, Siemens Healthcare, and Philips, where he gained extensive experience across multiple facets of the diagnostics and healthcare technology markets.

Mike holds a Bachelor of Science in Business from Lake Forest College.

“I’m honored to join Biolyst Scientific during such an exciting time of transformation. Biolyst’s culture of innovation and commitment to advancing science is creating a unique opportunity to shape the future of our industry. I look forward to leading the sales organization in building strong partnerships, inspiring our team, and driving sustainable growth that delivers meaningful impact for both our customers and the industry.”

Sr. Director of Distribution & OEM

Alex has over a decade of experience in the life science industry leading organizational growth through a blend of commercial expertise and sales leadership. Recently, he was the Director of North American Sales at Discover Echo, Inc., where he helped develop the salesforce and strategy needed to introduce a new generation of microscopes to life science researchers.

Prior to that, Alex served as the Regional Sales Director for Southern California at Avantor, a global provider of laboratory supplies and capital equipment. Alex holds a B.S. in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from UC San Diego, as well as an MBA from the Quantic School of Business and Technology. Looking ahead, Alex is passionate about advancing access to cutting-edge solutions that empower discovery and accelerate progress in laboratory research and the life sciences.